Godman Rampal arrested after high drama, to be produced in court today

Mangalore Today News Network

Hisar, November 20, 2014:  Satlok ashram supremo Rampal’s followers and militia tried, but in the end a joint team of paramilitary forces and Haryana Police managed to arrest the controversial godman from his ashram on Wednesday evening.

After a 30-hour standoff, Rampal was nabbed by the security forces; he was later whisked away in an ambulance followed by several police vehicles.

The godman, who is facing sedition charges, will be produced on Thursday before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that had issued a non-bailable warrant against Rampal.

Sources said that over 10,000 followers, including aged men and women and children, came out with raised hands from the ashram. The exodus continued till late in the night. By late evening, a large posse of CRPF personnel was brought to the ashram’s periphery. The Centre had also despatched 500 CRPF personnel to help the operation.

Rampal’s arrest was announced soon after a press release by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated that the operation by security forces at the Satlok Ashram was in the final stages. Preparations for the final assault on the ashram were on since late Wednesday evening. The police operation on Wednesday was headed Hisar IG Anil Kumar Rao.

"Despite firing, stone-pelting, and hurling of acid and petrol bombs from within the ashram, the police exercised extreme restraint as its main aim was to ensure safety and security of the thousands of innocent people stranded inside the ashram," sources said.

Sources said that to flush out Rampal’s followers from the ashram, security forces resorted to fear tactic. They tried to create panic among those inside the ashram so that they move out of the precinct. The aim was to have minimum number of people inside the ashram as the police got ready to arrest the godman, sources added. Sources said during the operation, Rampal’s followers were divided in opinion. One group of followers wanted to leave the ashram, while the other group prevented people from leaving.

According to a DSP-rank officer, about 10,380 people were evacuated between 10 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Another 4,000 people were rescued during Wednesday’s operation.

Security forces arrested at least 200 members of the militia that was guarding the Satlok Ashram. Three of Rampal’s key associates were also arrested. Those arrested included Rampal’s son and brother, besides Satlok Ashram spokesperson Raj Kapoor. Sources said that Kapoor was trying to escape by pretending as a Rampal follower. But he was identified and then arrested on Wednesday morning. Another spokesperson, Purushottam Das, was also arrested later in the day

Police said 70 Rampal followers, most of them his ’private commandos’, who indulged in violence on Tuesday, were arrested and produced before the local court which sent them to judicial custody till December 3.

At least 10 people were killed during the confrontation when reports last came in. Among the dead are six women and a six-month old toddler. Of the six women, Sunita Rajni and Raj Bala hailed from Uttar Pradesh; they were found dead at the ashram gate. Abhash of Madhya Pradesh, Malkeet Kaur of Sangrur in Punjab and Santosh from Rohtak succumbed to their injuries in Hisar Hospital.

A DSP-rank officer of Hisar claimed that 10,380 people were evacuated between 10 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. About 4,000 people were also rescued during the operation.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to bring an early end to the standoff between the police and Rampal’s followers. Sources said the Home Minister was not happy with the way the state government handled the issue.


Courtesy: Indiatoday