Arrested Guru Rampal to be Produced in Court Today
HISAR/PANCHKULA: The controversial guru arrested last night from his Haryana ashram after a two-week stand-off with the police, will be produced in court on Thursday morning. The 63-year-old has been charged with sedition or waging war against the nation.
Late on Wednesday, the police stormed Rampal’s chamber in his Satlok Ashram in Hisar and took him away in an ambulance, in a 10-vehicle convoy. His band of armed supporters tried to prevent his arrest and allegedly threw acid pouches at the police.
Rampal had holed himself up in the ashram with at least 5000 followers and used women and children as shields as he evaded arrest for days. His notorious army, who call themselves “babas commandos”, are still holding about 2000 or 3000 people inside the ashram, the police said.
The police fear there could be injured women and children among them. But they said there was no confirmation on any more people having died inside the ashram. Four women died at the ashram during the stand-off; one woman and one 18-month-old baby, who were staying at the ashram, died in hospital later.
There is tight security at hospital where Rampal was kept overnight. His supporters have gathered in the vicinity of the hospital, but are not being allowed by the police to come anywhere close. He will reportedly be taken to an undisclosed location later.
The High Court had ordered Rampal’s arrest by Friday after he repeatedly ignored their summons to appear for questioning in a 2006 case involving the killing of a villager by his supporters.
Rampal has skipped court hearings 43 times in four years. He has spent two years in jail on charges of murder and was out on bail.
Arrested Guru Rampal to be Produced in Court Today
The controversial guru is a former junior engineer who set up his cult after he was sacked. He is said to have 25 lakh followers in several states, owns property worth crores and a fleet of luxury cars.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said this morning, “We have been successful in this mission. No innocent should be killed – that was our focus. Media, administration should be given credit for this.”
Source:ndtv news
