More arms and ammunition were recovered as part of the ongoing search of arrested godman Rampal’s Satlok Ashram in Barwala on Monday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana Police.
Haryana Inspector General of Police, Hisar Range, Anil Rao said that during the search operation at Satlok Ashram, Barwala, the items recovered included 7.62 mm caliber pistol, three empty magazine, .32 bore revolver and 13 live cartridges of the weapon.
Besides, police also recovered five “petrol bombs”, five buckets of inflammable material, over 5,000 lathis, 52 helmets, acid bottles, 150 black-coloured commando dresses, 38 black cloth wrapped around the head by the commandos, over 1,000 small marbles and 50 mobile phones.
The weapons were recovered from the almirah of a room, which fell right below where Rampal used to sit and address his followers.
The SIT has been conducting intensive search of the sprawling 12 acre ashram after Rampal’s arrest. On Sunday, Rampal, who is in police custody, was taken to his ashram where cash, weapons, bullet-proof jackets and commando dresses were among other articles found from the premises.
The 63-year-old Rampal, during his hour-long stay at the 12-acre complex on Sunday was questioned by the SIT of Haryana Police on the recoveries, including arms and ammunition, that have been made, police said.
Rampal was arrested on November 19 from his ashram, where a thorough search has been going on for the last five days. He was produced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a day after his arrest in a contempt of court case and later remanded in police custody for five days by a court in Hisar after fresh cases were slapped on him.
Police on Monday said search operation will go on for a few more days as the ashram was spread over a vast area. So far, around 900 followers of Rampal have been arrested for various charges. During the standoff between Rampal’s followers and the police, five women and an infant had died, while more than 200 people were injured in the clashes.