The ongoing row over possession of Satlok Ashram headed by Godman Rampal at Karontha village here on Sunday took a violent turn when two persons, including a woman, were killed and 112 others, including a tehsildar and 50 police personnel injured in a clash between police and an infuriated mob led by leaders of Arya Samaj near the Ashram on the Rohtak-Jhajjar road.
The mob consisting of hundreds of people also torched four vehicles, including three buses of Haryana Roadways and an ambulance and over a dozen motor-bikes besides smashing the window panes of several other vehicles.
All the injured have been admitted to PGIMS, Rohtak where the condition of three is stated to be critical. The deceased have been identified as Promila of Karotha village and Sandeep of Panipat, said the PGIMS PRO.
Violence broke out on Sunday morning when the protesting members from Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (APS) along with residents of nearby villages were prevented by policemen from marching towards the ashram.
Although a large number of police personnel were deployed around the ashram (dera) to avert any untoward incident, they failed to stop the protesters from destroying public property and reaching close to the Ashram premises, where a large numbers of supporters of Rampal had also gathered.
Rohtak tehsildar, Pramod Chahal, was attacked by the mob with bamboo sticks when he tried to prevent them from going ahead. The villagers then started pelting stones on the police personnel who in retaliation first resorted to lathicharge and then opened fire on the protesters resulting in bullet injuries to some persons and killing of the two.
Tension had been brewing in the area over the ashram as Arya Samajis claim that the ownership of the dera is illegal and its presence is affecting peace in the region. The Ashram followers had filed a petition before a court which in its judgement had ordered status quo and asked the authorities to provide safety and security to the dera followers.
The Arya Samajis and villagers at a meeting held recently had announced that they would oppose the functioning of the dera at the present spot and had threatened that they would fight a decisive battle against the ashram on May 12.
They had stated that a State-level meeting would be held at Karontha village in protest against the ashram. When a large number of people today assembled in the village as per the programme and moved towards the ashram, violence broke out.
The protesting villagers also blocked the Rohtak-Jhajjar road from both the sides. A group of the Arya Samajis also held a meeting at nearby villages to garner the support of people. The situation remained tense but under control till the filing of this report.