The Haryana Government has sought from the Centre a few Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the activities of controversial self-styled ‘godman’ Rampal in his Hisar campus after he failed to appear in court in a contempt case even as the Punjab & Haryana High Court on Monday issued a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial self-styled ‘godman’ for his appearance in court on November 21. Earlier, Rampal supporters whisked him away from the Hisar ashram on the pretext of his medical emergency.
The State Government is planning to deploy the UAVs to monitor Rampal’s movement, activities within his campus, the number of people gathered there and whether they are carrying arms and explosives, an official said.
The gadgets are being held by National Security Guard (NSG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one of them may be asked to send the UAVs to Haryana, the official said. The Centre has already sent about 1,400 CRPF personnel to Haryana for upkeep of the law and order situation prevailing around the Satlok Ashram of Rampal, against whom the arrest warrant is pending.
Hours after Rampal, 63, failed to appear before the court and sought more time, his supporters claimed that he has been taken from his ashram in Barwala in Hisar district to an undisclosed destination for “treatment”.
In the high court, a two-judge Bench, while issuing the NBW, also directed the Haryana and Punjab Governments, the Union Government and the Chandigarh Administration to file a statement detailing the expenses incurred in making security arrangements for Rampal’s court appearance.
The Bench comprising justices M Jeyapaul and Darshan Singh had earlier on Monday morning reserved its verdict after hearing the State Government, amicus curiae and the defence counsel.
The court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) and Home Secretary of Haryana to remain present in the court for the next hearing on November 21.
For the second time, the police failed to arrest Rampal and present him before Punjab & Haryana High Court on Monday.
Shortly, after the HC reserved its verdict, a spokesman of Satlok Ashram, Raj Kapoor, claimed that Rampal was whisked away by them from his ashram at Barwala to an undisclosed destination for “treatment”.
Rampal has cited health reason and failed to appear in the high court on three dates, November 5, November 10 and latest being on November 17.
Hisar District Magistrate Ml Kaushik has issued an order asking all the followers, including women and children, to disperse immediately, an official spokesman said in Hisar. The spokesman said the administration would press into service buses for followers. The followers have also been asked not to act as a hurdle in the judicial process against Rampal.
There was tension not only in Chandigarh where security forces spent sleepless night to prevent supporters of controversial Godman Sant Rampal from sneaking into the city but also in Hisar where the godman is hiding his ashram.
Advocate-General Baldev Raj Mahajan told the high court that the State was taking steps to comply with the court order. He pleaded that since a number of women and children were present at the ashram in Barwala, the police and administration had to take every step carefully.
Sources said the Government plans to wait for his surrender. Water and power supply, besides food chain have been cut-off to the ashram. Officials believe that in such a situation, it will be difficult for the godman and his followers to continue in the ashram for long.
The self-styled godman has skipped court hearings 42 times since 2010, and sought exemptions repeatedly. He is out on bail in a 2006 case when his supporters allegedly opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak.
After the court orders in the evening, supporters also tried to exhibit pressure tactics, with two dozen followers in black commando dress having sticks and head gear exhibited their drill in front of followers and police near the ashram. These followers also poured kerosene oil and diesel on themselves to issue the threat that they will commit a mass suicide if police used force.
In a bid to ensure a peaceful end to the deadlock, the district authorities asked the followers of Rampal to vacate the Satlok ashram.
Warning the followers of Rampal not to create any obstruction in implementing the law, the deputy commissioner said the followers who come out of the ashram peacefully would be provided facilities to reach the railway station and bus stand. The police made repeated announcements from a megaphone to the inmates of the Ashram to vacate the premises and use the government buses to reach their villages. However, till late Monday there was hardly any response from the ashram inmates.