Hundreds of armed supporters of a controversial religious leader clashed with riot police as they tried to storm his fortified ashram in northern India today.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at followers of Rampal Maharaj, 63, who have spent several days holed up in a sprawling compound outside Hisar city, 110miles north of New Delhi.

The self-styled guru, or 'godman' has repeatedly refused to appear in court to answer several criminal charges, including conspiracy to murder, inciting mobs and contempt of court.

Violent support: Followers of Rampal Maharaj throw pieces of bricks and stones towards police during a protest outside the self-styled guru's ashram in Hisar in the northern Indian state of Haryan

Aggression: Police detain a supporter of Rampal Maharaj during a protest outside the ashram on Tuesday

Devoteed: Dozens of Rampal Maharaj followers were seen holding several posters of the 'guru' during a non-violent sit-in protest in New Delhi earlier today

Rampal Maharaj has given himself the title of 'guru, a Sanskrit term for 'teacher' or 'master', and he is accused of using his followers as human shields.

More than 100 officers have suffered bullet and other injuries at the compound in Haryana state where supporters are holed up with Maharaj

'We had prior information that they had stones, petrol bombs, weapons, batons and sticks and acid pouches,' Police chief SN Vashisht told reporters in the nearby city of Chandigarh.

'The police tried to break down the wall of the ashram today because we believe that the people who are inside are not really supporters but are being used as human shields.

'We will not stop until we catch this criminal,' he added.

Putting up a fight: Officers drag a woman away from the ashram during the clashes on Tuesday

Dangerous misson: Hundreds of armed supporters clashed with riot police at the fortified ashram

Supporters of Rampal Maharaj stand on a roof above Indian security officials during a confrontation at the fortified ashram outside Hisar city

Riot police an activist along the ground as they storm the ashram in an attempt to arrest Rampal Maharaj

Television footage showed chaotic scenes, with police armed with sticks dragging away supporters, including women, and bulldozers driving towards the ashram's high outer walls.

Devotees described scenes of panic inside the building, with some saying they were stopped from leaving by more senior supporters as police moved in, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

'There are so many people still inside and the vast majority of them want to leave. But they are not being allowed to leave,' one woman who managed to flee told PTI.

Police have not yet located Maharaj but have surrounded the compound, vowing to continue the operation until he was arrested.

'We have also given an ultimatum to those holed inside that they can come out if they want to, they would be given a safe passage,' Vashisht said.

Police in recent days have cut off water and electricity and blocked roads to prevent deliveries of food to the ashram to try to flush out the guru and his flock.

Ambulances were seen racing towards the ashram in the town of Barwala late Tuesday.

Maharaj's legal counsel has cited ill health as a reason for his failure to appear three times in the High Court. But an official helping with the case accused him of openly defying the court.

Supporters of Rampal Maharaj take shelter under placards as they are hit by a police water cannon during a protest outside the ashram

Injuries: Nurses care for an injured supporter of Rampal Maharaj at a hospital in Hisar after the clashes

A woman has to have stitches to her head after police stormed the compound where Rampal Maharaj has been holed up with his supporters

Human shield: Rampal Maharaj has repeatedly refused to appear in court to answer several criminal charges, including conspiracy to murder, inciting mobs and contempt of court

'Baba Rampal (Maharaj) has raised a private army of supporters who are openly confronting with the police, the government and the administration,' said Anupam Gupta, an 'amicus curiae' (friend of the court) -- a party who offers information in a case.

'He has openly proclaimed that he is above the law and judicial systems,' Gupta told reporters.

Supporters also protested in New Delhi to proclaim their leader's innocence, as police looked on.

'We expect nothing less than justice for our guru, who is innocent...he is just not someone who can do any of the things for which he is charged,' said Nathu Lal at the protest in the centre of the capital.

Police accuse Maharaj of ordering his disciples to fire on villagers during clashes in 2006 in which one person was killed and scores injured.

India has been rocked by several scandals involving immensely popular 'godmen', mostly Hindu ascetics who claim mystical powers. Last year one was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.

On his website Maharaj, an engineer by profession, says he follows the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir, who has many devotees in India and abroad.