Godman Rampal flees ashram

Chandigarh/New Delhi: Satlok Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor has said that Rampal was “unwell” and was being treated at an “undisclosed location”. However, Haryana DGP S.N. Vashisht told reporters in Chandigarh that they had information that Rampal is still inside.

Mr Vashisht said the securitymen were exercising maximum restraint as the lives of women and children who were being used as “human shields” were involved.

Rampal supporters demanded a CBI probe into allegations of his role in a murder conspiracy. A team of five of his supporters also met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memo seeking a CBI probe. The Union home ministry has so far decided not to intervene, but is closely monitoring events.

Outside Satlok Ashram, near Haryana’s Barwala town, chaotic scenes were seen as the police lathicharged Rampal devotees blocking the entrance, and also used batons against several media people covering the clash between sect followers and the security forces.

Though the state police had allowed some media crews to take pictures and cover the crackdown, the sudden unprovoked cane charge left the police embarrassed.

The media had been taken near the ashram complex by the police itself on the verbal orders of the Haryana DGP. Union home minister Rajnath Singh said that he would look into reports of journalists being assaulted in Hisar.

It was apparent that the police did not want the clash to be filmed.