Six dead in ’godman’ Rampal’s stand-off with police

www.mangaloretoday.com

Chandigarh, Nov 19, 2014 (DHNS): Haryana Police Wednesday confirmed that five women and a child have died during the stand-off between controversial sect leader Rampal and security forces.

Haryana’s Director General of Police S.N. Vashisht told media here that bodies of four women were handed over by Satlok Ashram authorities to police while one woman and an 18-month-old child died in hospital.

The DGP said that none of the victims bore any bodily injuries. He said one woman and the child died because proper medical attention was not being given to them in time.

The police have arrested 425 people from the ashram but are still searching for 63-year-old Rampal, an engineer-turned-guru, who has now been charged with sedition. He is believed to be inside with around 5,000 supporters.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said this evening that the police crackdown on the ashram, spread across 12 acres in Barwala town, would continue till Rampal is arrested. Home Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly called the Chief Minister and asked him to resolve the crisis as early as possible.