Hisar crisis: Police arrest Rampal's close aide, Centre rushes 500 paramilitary forces to Haryana

Barwala, Haryana: Mounting pressure on godman Rampal to surrender, police have slapped sedition and other serious charges against him and several of his followers while ruling out any negotiations with him, a day after armed clashes took place.

Purushottam Das, a close aide of the controversial sect leader, was arrested and sent to judicial custody for 14 days. A home ministry official said the central government sent 500 paramilitary personnel to the state to deal with law and order situation.

Meanwhile, Haryana director general of police SN Vashisht asserted that police would continue its "operation" till he is arrested for production before Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday in a contempt case.

He said the ashram authorities have handed over bodies of four women and two sick persons, including an infant, who also died in a hospital later. The cause of their death will be investigated.

"There is no possibility of negotiations... There is not even any plan.. He is accused of serious crimes. My suggestion to him is that he should surrender before the law," Vashisht said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh.

Security personnel drag away a follower of Sant Rampal during a clash outside Satlok Ashram in Hisar (Photo: PTI)

Police registered fresh cases on Tuesday night against Rampal, ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor, another key functionary Purshottam Dass and several other followers under under various Sections of the IPC.

The cases have been filed under Sections 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the state) and 122 (collecting arms etc, with the intention of waging war against the government of India).

Besides, the cases have also been slapped against the accused under Sections 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and other charges that include attempt to murder, assault and under various sections of the Arms Act, police said.

The fresh cases were filed after clashes broke out at the ashram between police and Rampal's supporters, who allegedly resorted to firing and threw petrol bombs.

Rampal is already an accused in a murder case. Earlier this week, Punjab and Haryana high court gave the government time till Friday to produce Rampal in contempt of court case, after which authorities have been asking the devotees in and around the Satlok Ashram to disperse and help them comply with court order.

The DGP said 10,000 followers have come out of the ashram, while nearly 5,000 are still believed to be inside.

Nearly 270 of Rampal's supporters, including 20 key functionaries of his ashram, besides 250 members of his private army have been detained after the fresh charges, including that of rioting, were invoked.

After investigation, those found involved will be put under arrest, he added.

"As the investigation progresses, further charges would be added on the basis of evidence that comes to the fore against them," he said.

Police use batons and water cannon to disperse supporters of controversial guru Sant Rampal outside Satlok Ashram in Hisar (Photo: PTI)

He said the operation had been temporarily halted on Tuesday night to allow more followers to come out of the Satlok ashram.

"So far, as many as 10,000 followers have come out. We believe nearly 5,000 followers are still inside. These followers include women, children and very old persons as well. Most of them hail from places like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

"We are committed to protecting the lives of innocents. Therefore, we are not setting any deadline for this operation as our over-riding priority is to save the lives of innocents," the DGP, who was flanked by additional chief secretary (home) P K Mahapatra and principal secretary to Chief Minister, Sanjeev Kaushal, said.

He said so far the security personnel had not entered the ashram and denied that there had been any delay or laxity on part of the police.

He said that this morning the ashram authorities handed over the bodies of four women to them, including that of a 70-year-old. The women whose bodies had been handed over were identified as Savita (31) of Delhi, Santosh (45) of Rohtak, Raj Bala (70) of Bijnore and MalikitKaur (50) of Sangrur in Punjab.

Besides, 20-year-old Rajni, who was in a serious with a heart ailment, was rushed to Hisar hospital from the Ashram at around 4am, but died there four hours later.

A one-and-a-half year old infant, whose father's name is Vipin Pratap Singh, also died as he was suffering from congenital jaundice.

The infant belonged to Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh, he said.

"Postmortem examination of the bodies will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause behind their deaths," he said.

DGP made it clear that there were no wounds on the bodies of the four women the police was also not certain under what circumstances they had passed away.

"Inquest proceedings are being conducted. When postmortem examination report comes, then we will know whether they died due to natural causes or due to any other reason...," he said.

DGP Vashisht denied that there had been any intelligence or police failure which allowed Rampal to use thousands of followers as "human shield" and put the forces on the backfoot.

"There is no laxity or lapse or delay on our part. One has to keep in mind that here we are dealing with a situation where thousands of lives are at stake and we could not have carried out a sudden attack and put them in danger," he said.

"Police are doing their job and we will produce Rampal, who as per our information is still inside the Ashram, before the high court," he said.

Mahapatra said that Haryana Police is a "professional force" and is committed to uphold the rule of law.

Police and Sant Rampal's followers during a violent clash at Satlok Ashram in Hisar (Photo: PTI)

Kaushal too dismissed suggestions about intelligence failure or that the Manohar Lal Khattar government had failed to deal with the situation. Read: Man quarantined at Delhi airport for suspected Ebola virus

He said that the DGP and the home secretary had given the details of "operational strategy" in a sealed cover to the Punjab and Haryana High Court to execute the non bailable warrants.

"We are not in a position to divulge the details of the strategy being adopted," he said.

Meanwhile, DGP defended the decision to allow the mediapersons only at a "safe distance" from the ashram on Wednesday to cover the operation being carried out by the forces.

He said the police had found that over 250 LPG cylinders were stored inside the ashram and in case of any explosion, it could cause harm to those who are within 500 metre distance of the premises.

"We treat media as our ally and we are concerned about their safety and security even as we remain committed to allow them to discharge their duties in a free and fair manner," he added.

Haryana police have drawn severe flak for the assault on journalists and camera persons outside the ashram on Tuesday.

"The operation will continue in many phases," he said, adding, "we are working with twin objectives. First to save innocent lives and take them out safely and second to arrest Rampal and produce him before the court."

The DGP said that police and civil administration were facilitating the followers to reach their destination by pressing into service buses and other vehicles and dropping them at Hisar bus stand and railway station for their onward journey.

Disciples who hail from nearby areas like Jind were also being dropped home.

Asked if police is taking any step to ensure that the followers do not converge at any other place, DGP informed that he was in constant touch with Delhi Police commissioner and IG, UP Police, and regular updates were being exchanged.

He said the strategy to temporarily suspend the operation last night had "helped" as it gave time for a large number of followers to come out of the ashram, which is spread over 12 acres of land.

DGP also said that despite provocations from some supporters from inside the ashram who fired at the police, hurled 'petrol bombs', stones, acid bottles and other chemicals to target the forces and thwart their attempt to secure Rampal, the forces did not retaliate.

Replying to a question, the DGP said that they were thoroughly checking the followers who were coming out so that those involved in the violence do not escape.

The DGP said the forces had surrounded the ashram. He however, added that police cannot share operational details.