Bengaluru: A pall of gloom has descended on 'Param Moksha' Ashram set up by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a self-styled Baba, at Siddalingapura near Mysuru on the Bengaluru Highway, following his arrest on charges of rape.
Around 30-40 devotees were at the ashram when a CBI court convicted the Baba of raping a woman. They broke down after the court verdict and claimed that their guru was innocent. A KSRP van has been stationed in front of the ashram by the Mysuru police as a precautionary measure.
The ashram, spread across 3.5 acres on the busy Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, was set up in 2008. Since the land was reportedly purchased directly from farmers, permission was not given to construct any structures, as per the existing rules. However, a big meditation hall has been built, where the 'Satsang' is held every Sunday. Around 8-10-foot compound wall surrounds the entire plot with only one entry/exit point.
Sources told Deccan Chronicle that Baba has devotees in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and neighbouring districts. People from different strata of society gather here every Sunday and hold Satsang. Most of them are businessmen, software engineers and employees of private companies, the sources said.
Ram Rahim reportedly visited the Ashram in 2008 following a threat to his life. He arrived in a private aircraft till Bengaluru, came here with around 20-30 private bodyguards and stayed for some days. He has not come to Mysuru since then.
The sources said that the devotees believe that their 'Guru' was will be absolved of all charges soon. “We are praying for him to be free of all charges. We know our guru is innocent and he has been doing many social works at all ashrams in India and abroad," they said.
There is a lot of greenery in the ashram with hundreds of coconut and other trees. People are allowed inside the ashram only after a thorough verification.
Police Commissioner Subramanyeshwara Rao said that they have not received any orders from the Union Home Ministry regarding sealing of the ashram in Mysuru. “At present, we have deployed police from jurisdictional police station. We have got sufficient forces which have come from various parts for Ganesha festival bandobast. We will deploy them if needed.”
SWR cancels trains
South Western Railway has cancelled some North bound trains following the outbreak of violence in Punjab and Haryana after the conviction of self-proclaimed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case.
"Due to deteriorating law and order situation in Haryana, Punjab and Jammu, five trains have been cancelled and they all commence from Yeshwanthpur," said Vijaya, Chief Public Relations Officer.
The Karnataka Sampark Kranthi Express, Mata Vaishnodevi Katra Suvidha Express and the Superfast Sampark Kranthi train returning from Chandigarh were cancelled on Saturday. Trains originating from Bengaluru are likely to be restored on Wednesday.
A lot of railway property, including rakes, was damaged following violence in Punjab and Haryana. Northern Railway has cancelled many trains originating and passing through these two states.
As per Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala, trains to Chandigarh and other areas will remain cancelled until Monday.
