Over two hundred people were injured, including several security and media personnel, as violent clashes erupted at the Satlok Ashram of controversial self-styled godman Rampal after efforts to arrest the sect leader were met with stiff resistance by his supporters who allegedly fired at the police.
The police were forced to lob teargas shells and used batons to disperse his supporters who also used petrol bombs and acid pouches to scare the security personnel and those present.Those injured in the clashes included women and children as supporters of Rampal used bricks to target the police and create panic at the ashram in Barwala town of Hisar district.
Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar is closely monitoring the situation and being given constant updates."The Chief Minister is keeping a close eye on the situation. He is regularly updating himself as the situation unfolds," Khattar's OSD Jawahar Yadav said.
There were conflicting claims about the presence of Rampal in the ashram. Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor had earlier said that Rampal was "unwell" and was being treated at an "undisclosed location".
Electronic media faced the brunt of the violence that left some of them injured while cameras of many private electronic news channels were broken.
Haryana Director General of Police SN Vashisht said police was in the midst of a tough operation. "Earlier I got two phone calls that media personnel were stopped from entering the operational area. There were 86 reporters and I permitted each one of them," he said. Officials later regretted the loss to the media persons and the State Government assured that suitable compensation would be given to make up for the loss and damage of equipment.
Asked to comment on some mediapersons getting injured and cameras of some electronic media journalists getting broken in the melee at Satlok Ashram, Khattar's OSD Jawahar Yadav said: "It is unfortunate. Media is fourth pillar of our democracy, but I don't know the exact details about the circumstances which led to the attack and injuries to many media personnel".
Police said many security personnel were also injured in the violence as there was firing and stone pelting from the ashram, with some followers making last-ditch attempts to thwart the forces from storming the premises.Three FIRs have been slapped against Rampal and his supporters, Vashisht said.
The violence has erupted at a time when the Haryana Government is racing against time to meet Friday's deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for producing Rampal in a contempt case.
Security personnel, including police and paramilitary forces stepped up efforts to disperse thousands of followers holed up inside the ashram. A senior police officer said supporters of the godman were firing from inside the ashram but police was exercising "maximum possible restraint to minimise casualties".
A portion of the outer wall of the ashram had been razed even as thick clouds of smoke billowed out from the premises spread over an area of 12 acres.The 63-year-old Rampal was to appear before the High Court on Monday but he did not do so, with his counsel saying he was "unwell". The High Court then issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against him and asked the authorities to present him on Friday.
Vashisht said police were committed to bring out the godman who was still inside the ashram. He described the operation as "very tough".