Clashes erupt at Godman’s ashram in Haryana, police fire tear-gas shells
Barwala: The stand-off between the Haryana government and 'godman' Rampal's supporters continued on Tuesday amid indications that hundreds of people have been detained by his 'private army' at his ashram.
Police used bulldozers, resorted to firing tear gas shells. Several people were injured even as the situation grew tense.
With Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday giving the government time till Friday to produce Rampal in contempt of court case, authorities have been asking the devotees in and around the Satlok Ashram to disperse and help them comply with court order.
Some disciples who managed to come out from the ashram premises today claimed that "thousands" of people were inside and most of them wanted to leave but were being prevented by lathi-wielding supporters of the 'godman' from leaving.
A large number of women and children, are among those who are still inside the Satlok Ashram here, they claimed.
A woman follower, aged around 40, who identified herself as Kusum from Uttar Pradesh, said she somehow managed to come out from inside the Ashram today.
Barwala,Hisar: Clash between Sant Rampal's supporters & police, police resorts to firing and baton charge pic.twitter.com/PVoTRsk4vS
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 18, 2014"I forced my way out. There are scores of people still inside," she said.
Another middle-aged woman follower, who came out from the Ashram, said "I am from Dadri. There are so many people still inside and vast majority of them want to leave. But they are not being allowed to leave."
When asked who was putting pressure on them to stay back, a woman follower from Aligarh told reporters that, "I forced my way out. People are facing difficulty in getting food and water. But some men carrying lathis told us to stay back and tried to prevent us from leaving. They told us that the (court) decision will soon come and everything will be alright. We persisted that we wanted to leave and then we came out in a group".
A young male follower of Rampal from Haryana, said "I was forced to stay back. Some followers of the 'Baba' who are from other states asked us to stay inside..."
He told reporters that Rampal should surrender before the court immediately and let the law take its own course.
"Thousands of followers are still inside the Ashram and a vast majority wants to leave. But they are told that they will be given food here only. But now many people are not listening and are gradually coming out," he said, adding ration supplies too are running low.
He further said that ordinary followers like him had not seen Rampal all these days.
"I cannot say for sure whether he is still inside the Ashram or not. We have not seen the Baba all these days. Nobody has seen him," he said.
Meanwhile, high drama was witnessed last night when some followers of the controversial 'godman' threatened to immolate themselves in their bid to put pressure on police and civil administration not to go ahead with their action against Rampal.
The Haryana police last evening towed away several vehicles parked outside the ashram.
Hisar SP Satender Kumar Gupta said the police and civil administration was assisting those followers who wish to go home.
The authorities were treading with caution, wary of the possibility of a violent backlash by the followers, who were still present in large numbers inside the ashram and might be carrying lathis, sharp edged weapons and even crude bombs.
There is an army of armed private commandos of the 'godman' inside the Ashram, officials said. Hisar District Magistrate M L Kaushik in an order yesterday asked all the followers, including women and children, to disperse immediately.
Hisar district administration has said it would press into service buses to transport the followers to the bus stand and the railway station for their onward journey.
Barwala,Hisar: Clash between Sant Rampal's supporters & police, police resorts to firing and baton charge pic.twitter.com/OiP2V6Muxt
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 18, 2014