HISAR: Uneasy calm prevailed around the Satlok Ashram today with the police and supporters of self-styled godman Sant Rampal appearing headed for a face-off, as heavy police force is closing-in to execute the court orders to arrest him.

The situation is volatile around the ashram, which has been created into a virtual fortress by the disciples of controversial godman who have gathered in large numbers to prevent his arrest in a contempt of court case.

Hisar-Barwala Road had been blocked and prohibitory orders were imposed around the ashram, police said, adding senior police officials were camping in the district and keeping a close eye on the volatile situation.

Senior police officials today assessed the situation in view of the disciples adopting aggressive attitude towards Punjab and Haryana High Court order to arrest and produce the controversial self styled godman on November 17.

The disciples of the godman have maintained that they would not allow the police to arrest him till he recovers completely.

Earlier, the doctors monitoring him had pronounced his health as normal.

A large number of supporters of Rampal, including women and children, are still in and outside the ashram, where power supply had been disconnected and there was apprehension of them resorting to violence to avert the arrest, senior police official said.

The police force is getting closer to the ashram and about forty ambulances are ready in case of a showdown between the police and followers of the godman.

Rejecting the state government's plea that Rampal was unwell and his arrest would create law and order problems, Punjab and Haryana High Court had on Monday issued a fresh non-bailable arrest warrant against him in a contempt case and asked why his bail in a 2006 murder case should not be cancelled.

Observing that the state government lacked willingness to arrest the godman and no sincere efforts were made to produce him before it, the HC directed the Haryana Director General of Police and the Home Secretary to ensure that Rampal appears in person before it in Chandigarh on or before November 17.

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Uneasy calm prevails around godman Sant Rampal's Satlok Ashram