Haryana: Violence erupts at self-styled 'godman' Rampal's ashram; police fire teargas shells

Several persons, including security and media personnel, were injured as clashes erupted at the ashram of controversial 'godman' Rampal on Tuesday with police lobbing teargas shells and using batons to disperse his supporters who allegedly fired back.

A number of people including women were injured in the violence at the Satlok Ashram in this town of Hisar district, as authorities attempted to storm the premises and arrest Rampal, against whom fresh Non-Bailable Warrants were issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday.

However, it was not clear in the melee whether Rampal was holed-up inside the ashram or had moved out as was claimed by an ashram spokesman yesterday.

Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor had said that Rampal was "unwell" and was being treated at an "undisclosed location".

Media crews faced the brunt of the violence that left some of them injured while cameras of many private electronic news channels were broken.

Police said that many security personnel had also been injured in the violence as they were was firing and stone pelting from the ashram side, with some followers making last-ditch attempts to thwart the forces from storming the premises.

DGP S N Vashisht said police was in the midst of a tough operation.

"Earlier I got two phone calls that they (media personnel) were stopped from entering the operational areas.

There were 86 reporters and I permitted each one of them.

"It has been brought to my notice that some media persons have been injured in the ensuing melee or the stone pelting.

One I have seen on the news that he has been beaten up by police. I assure you that the matter will be investigated," he said.

The violence has erupted at a time when the Haryana government is racing against time to meet the Friday deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for producing Rampal in a contempt case.

Security personnel including police and para-military forces stepped up efforts to disperse the followers, said to be in thousands inside the Ashram.

A senior police official said supporters of the 'godman' were firing from inside the ashram but police was exercising "maximum possible restraint to minimise casualties."

A portion of the outer wall of the ashram had been razed even as thick cloud of smoke billowed out from the premises which is spread over an area of 12 acres.

Police said that stones were being hurled at them from inside the ashram as several followers and Rampal's 'private army' had pitched themselves on the rooftop of the ashram.

As the security personnel that included para-military forces in strength launched a massive operation to clear the ashram area, several followers also hurled 'petrol bombs' at the forces.

The followers, who were being evacuated, were taken in waiting police vans and other vehicles and sent to their destinations. Many injured were taken to waiting ambulances, which had been stationed outside the ashram which has 50-feet high walls on all sides.

An injured journalist said that he along with his other colleagues was standing at the spot when suddenly they were surrounded by the police which "chased" them and used batons, leaving them injured.

Police said they were facing a hostile crowd, some of them armed, from inside, but they were using restraint to keep the causalities to the minimum.

The 63-year-old 'godman' was to appear before the High Court yesterday but he did not do so, with his counsel saying he was "unwell".

The High Court then issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against him and asked the authorities to present him on Friday.

However, the ashram spokesman had said that "Sant Rampal was not running away from law. We have already said that he will present himself before the court as soon as his health improves. But authorities can't use force to hunt him down".

He said the 'godman' was at present at an "undisclosed location" and was being "treated" for his "illness".

Kapoor evaded a direct reply when asked why Rampal does not surrender before the Court.

Rampal has cited health reasons for not appearing before the High Court earlier on three dates - November 5, November 10.

This morning, some disciples who managed to come out from the ashram claimed that "thousands" of people were inside the premises and a vast majority of them wanted to leave immediately but were being prevented by lathi-wielding supporters of the 'godman'.

Read full coverage here.