Tensions are running high in Hisar, Haryana as followers of a self-styled "godman" Rampal armed with clubs and stones defied rounds of teargas from Indian security forces on Tuesday, preventing police from arresting the controversial guru who is wanted on murder charges. Rampal heads a sect that worships poet and mystic Kabir.

Rampal along with 38 accused was charged with murder and other offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on July 12, 2006 following a violent clash between his followers and another group in which one person died and several others were injured. He along along with 38 others was being tried in a sessions court of Rohtak. Rampal was granted bail by the High court on April 2, 2008 which has now been cancelled due to his absence during trials.

He has been charged with interfering in judicial proceedings during the hearing of a case in the Hisar sessions court. On July 15, his supporters had marched inside the district court complex in Hisar and tried to create trouble in the court proceedings. The Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of the case and issued notices to Rampal and the state government. As he failed to appear before it, the court had issued non-bailable warrant against Rampal and asked the Haryana government to produce him and his aide Ram Kunwar Dhaka before it.

The disciples of the godman have maintained that he is unwell and they would not allow the police to arrest him till he recovers completely.

18 November 2014

Hisar clashes: Over 200 persons injured; women & children being used as human shields, says Haryana DGP

Haryana DGP SN Vashisht today said security personnel were exercising maximum restraint as lives of women and children being used as "human shields" were involved. Besides, the police had to deal with large number of arms, ammunition and an LPG dump inside the Satlok Ashram, he said, maintaining that the controversial figure was "100%" still in the Ashram.

The DGP said over 200 persons, including 100 policemen, followers and mediapersons, had received injuries during the course of the operation, in which firing and hurling of stones, petrol bombs and acid bottles from inside the Ashram had taken place.

Assault on journalists in Hisar: Human Rights Commission issues notice to Haryana Police

The notice was issued to the Director General of Police, Haryana calling for a report in the matter within two weeks, according to an NHRC statement. While issuing the notice, the commission took cognisance of a complaint that some journalists were beaten up by police personnel near Rampal's ashram in Hisar, where they had assembled at an earmarked place for coverage of the developments there. The commission observed that the allegations leveled in the complaint, if true, amount to violation of human rights of the media persons.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh advises Rampal's supporters to obey law

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today advised the supporters of self-styled godman Rampal to follow rule of law and cooperate with authorities which is trying to arrest the controversial man in the wake of an order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Singh told Rampal's supporters that the central government cannot interfere in the High Court's order and everyone must obey the directive of the court, sources said.

Around 1000 Rampal supporters stage protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar

Scores of supporters of self-styled godman Rampal today staged a demonstration here demanding withdrawal of police from outside his ashram in Hisar claiming the allegations against him are false. The protesters also claimed Rampal was "unwell" and was being treated at an "undisclosed location".

News Broadcasters Association condemns 'assault' on journalists in Hisar; ask CM to take action

The News Broadcasters Association today strongly condemned the "brutal assault" by policemen on journalists and camera persons outside the ashram of controversial 'godman' Rampal in Hisar, terming it as a frontal attack on freedom of press. NBA president Rajat Sharma said such a "naked show of unbridled 'khaki' power" was "unacceptable" in democracy while demanding exemplary action against the errant policemen who "unleashed unprovoked attacks" on journalists and cameramen doing their duties lawfully.

Image credit: Rohit Kumar (http://www.iamin.in/hisar)

Haryana DGP says Rampal still in ashram; CM Manohar Lal Khattar 'monitoring situation'

With the situation at the ashram of 'godman' Rampal in Hisar district's Barwala town turning volatile, state DGP S N Vashisht today said the police was committed to bring out the godman who was "still inside" even as he described the operation as "very tough". Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was also closely monitoring the situation and was being given constant updates. "The Chief Minister is keeping a close eye on the situation. He is regularly updating himself as the situation unfolds," Khattar's OSD Jawahar Yadav said.

High Court reserves order on cancelling 'godman' Rampal's bail

A day after issuing a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) against 'godman' Rampal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today reserved its judgement on cancellation of his bail in connection with a 2006 murder case. During the hearing, the amicus curiae pressed for immediate cancellation of Rampal's bail, saying the "credibility of the entire judicial system" would be "at stake" if his bail was not cancelled.

Haryana government represented by state' Additional Advocate General also supported the amicus curiae and demanded cancellation of his bail in wake of his "unacceptable" conduct. However, Rampal's counsel sought continuation of bail, saying he was granted exemption from personal appearance by the trial court.

Violence erupts at self-styled 'godman' Rampal's ashram; police fire teargas shells

Several persons, including security and media personnel, were injured as clashes erupted at the ashram of controversial 'godman' Rampal on Tuesday with police lobbing teargas shells and using batons to disperse his supporters who allegedly fired back.

A number of people including women were injured in the violence at the Satlok Ashram in this town of Hisar district, as authorities attempted to storm the premises and arrest Rampal.

However, it was not clear in the melee whether Rampal was holed-up inside the ashram or had moved out as was claimed by an ashram spokesman on November 17. Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor had said that Rampal was "unwell" and was being treated at an "undisclosed location".

Image credit: Rohit Kumar (http://www.iamin.in/hisar)

17 November 2014

Haryana Police face uphill task in dispersing 'godman' Rampal's followers

The district and police administration today faced an uphill task in dispersing 'godman' Rampal's followers, including a large number of women and children, who had pitched camp at his Satlok Ashram here. The authorities asked the devotees, who have been sitting in and around the Ashram, to disperse and help them comply with the Punjab and Haryana High Court directive to produce him before it by Friday, November 21 in the wake of fresh warrants.

Punjab, Haryana High Court issue fresh non-bailable warrant against Sant Rampal

Rampal faces contempt for skipping judicial proceedings before a Sessions Court in Haryana's Hisar district on November 5, citing medical reasons. The joint state court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Rampal and asked him to appear before the court on Monday. However, the public prosecutor, advocate Anupam Gupta said that the next hearing will be held on November 21. "The court has issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Rampal and given directions that by it must be executed by any means whatsoever," said Gupta.

'Godman' Rampal 'unwell', not to appear before High Court

With the deadline for him to appear before Punjab and Haryana High Court in a contempt case ending today, self-styled godman Rampal's supporters today said he remained "unwell" and would seek more time from court.

As the stand-off continued at Rampal's Satlok Ashram, where his followers were resisting his arrest after a fresh non-bailable warrant was issued a week ago, an Ashram spokesman said the Godman, who underwent a medical examination last night, was not in a condition to travel to Chandigarh and that he could appear through video conferencing.

"He is not in a condition to travel as he remains unwell. We will give a medical certificate which will be presented to the High Court," Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor said.

16 November 2014

Godman Rampal's followers thwart police efforts to arrest him; curfew in parts of Punjab, Haryana

Authorities have imposed imposing Section 144 banning assembly of five or more persons in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali to maintain law and order and restrict the movement of the followers of controversial self-styled godman Rampal. A large number of policemen have been deployed at key points including roads leading to Chandigarh from Panchkula (Haryana) and Mohali (Punjab), police said. Barricades have been put up at entry points and videography was being done and vehicles checked.

Security measures have been strengthened around the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises here while additional forces have been deployed around the railway station and the inter-state bus terminuses, they said. Police is keeping a close eye to ensure that Rampal's followers do not march towards Chandigarh in view of the Court hearing tomorrow as it may create a law and order problem.

Tense situation prevails around controversial godman Rampal's ashram in Hisar

As authorities raced against time to meet the Monday deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to ensure his appearance, the situation remained volatile around the ashram, which has been surrounded by police and paramilitary forces and all roads leading to the premises sealed, officials said.

Several disciples of the controversial godman are still holed-up in the Ashram to prevent his arrest in a contempt of court case. A police official said additional police force has been deployed in this town yesterday to bring out Rampal, who is being protected by a strong human shield formed by his followers including women, some of whom are believed to be carrying lethal weapons.

With agency inputs.