Thousands prevented from leaving Satlok Ashram

Barwala (Hisar): Several persons, including security and media personnel, were injured as clashes erupted at the ashram of controversial godman Rampal here on Tuesday with police lobbing teargas shells and using batons to disperse his supporters who allegedly fired back.

A number of people including women were injured in the violence at the Satlok Ashram in this town of Hisar district, as authorities attempted to storm the premises and arrest Rampal, against whom fresh Non-Bailable Warrants were issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday.

However, it was not clear in the melee whether Rampal was holed-up inside the ashram or had moved out as was claimed by an ashram spokesman Monday.

Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor had said that Rampal was unwell and was being treated at an undisclosed location. Media crews faced the brunt of the violence that left some of them injured while cameras of many private electronic news channels were broken.

Police said that many security personnel had also been injured in the violence as they were was firing and stone pelting from the ashram side, with some followers making last-ditch attempts to thwart the forces from storming the premises.

DGP S N Vashisht said police was in the midst of a tough operation. He stated that he was informed that media personnel were stopped from entering the operational areas.

The violence has erupted at a time when the Haryana government is racing against time to meet the Friday deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for producing Rampal in a contempt case.

Security personnel including police and para-military forces stepped up efforts to disperse the followers, said to be in thousands inside the Ashram.

A senior police official said supporters of the godman were firing from inside the ashram but police was exercising maximum possible restraint to minimise casualties.

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Violent clashes at controversial godmans ashram