Despite heavy police bandobast, thousands of followers, including women and children, on Sunday blocked the entry to Satlok Ashram, the complex of self-styled godman and sect leader Rampal, at Barwala in Haryana’s Hisar district and thwarted his arrest in a contempt case. However, the spokerperson of the ashram said that Rampal would appear in court on Monday if his health permits.
As the police authorities raced against time to meet the Monday’s deadline set by the Punjab & Haryana High Court to ensure appearance of the self-styled godman, the situation remained tense throughout the day prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders at several vulnerable places.
As many as 15 battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), five companies of the Rapid Action Force and nearly 10,000 personnel of Haryana Police had already been stationed near the Satlok Ashram to maintain law and order there.
Also, all the roads leading to Ashram on NH-65 (Hisar-Chandigarh road), had already been sealed by putting police nakas. Fire brigade and riot control vehicles, water cannons, bullet-proof vans as well as ambulances have also been stationed there.
Thousands of his supporters are camping outside the complex for over a fortnight to prevent security forces from arresting Rampal. The local district administration had cut off power and water supply to the Satlok Ashram, alleged Raj Kapoor, a spokesperson of Satlok Ashram.Kapoor told The Pioneer that police were using pressure tactics on them.
“Guru ji (Rampal) would certainly attend the court, if his health allows him to do so on Monday. We have called a panel of doctors on Monday at 8 am and after finding him to be fit, he will go to court,” he said, adding, “If found medically unfit, we will seek some more time from the court.”
According to the sources, the followers of self-styled godman have formed a shield around him. Women and children are part of the multi-tier security ring around the ashram.Notably, the High Court had severely criticised police and the Haryana Government last week for failing to arrest Rampal. And, non-bailable warrants were issued against him on November 5.
Rampal was directed to appear before the court on Monday. Rampal, through his counsel, had earlier claimed that he was medically unfit to appear in the court in person.Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had on Saturday appealed to him “to present himself in court in a peaceful manner”.
Meanwhile, the police authorities have made elaborate arrangements to arrest Rampal by late Sunday night and produce him in the court on Monday.DSP GRP (Government Railway Police) Ambala Cantt, Tirth Ram confirmed that the Haryana Railway Police has deputed 550 personnel at Chandigarh Railway Station to maintain law and order here on November 17.
Besides, three deputy superintendents of different districts have been deputed to escort Rampal to the court premises. 5,000 police personnel of Chandigarh Police, 1,200 from the Punjab Police have also been deputed besides, 550 of Rapid Action Force from Meerut to seal Chandigarh’s boundaries early in the morning from 4 am onwards on November 17.
Punjab and Haryana High Court has also issued instructions to its employees to be present before 9 am in the court to avoid any inconvenience during the early hours of the day on November 17.