Hisar: Purushottam Dass, brother of controversial sect leader Rampal had been arrested when he was trying to flee from ashram. Six people, including a child, have died during the action at the Hisar ashram, said Haryana police.
Police also said that the cause of their deaths is yet to be known.
Haryana DGP SN Vashisht said at a news conference that the dead included five women. The bodies which were found inside the ashram were sent to hospital for postmortem examination.
While emphasizing the ashram inmates had not died in police action, Vashisht said, “There were no bullets or other injury marks on the dead. The police have not yet entered the ashram. The autopsy will reveal the cause of deaths.”
Police also said 5,000 of Rampal’s followers are still holed up inside the ashram and they have been asked to come out peacefully or face further action.
Vashisht said, “We cannot launch a full scale assault as there are many innocents are still trapped inside. More than 10,000 have come out safely so far and police have managed to save many lives.”
He said Rampal has now been charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy and that he has been asked to surrender.
The case has been filed under Sections 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the state) and 122 (Collecting arms etc. with the intention of waging war against the Govt of India).
Police said that the cases have also been slapped against the accused under Sections 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and other charges that include attempt to murder, assault and under various Sections of the Arms Act.
While Haryana DGP SN Vashisht said they believe Rampal was inside the ashram, its spokesperson Raj Kapoor said Rampal was “unwell” and was being treated at an “undisclosed location”.
Notify that followers of Rampal fought pitched battles by lobbing petrol bombs to thwart the charge by a 3,000-strong contingent of Haryana police commandos to storm the high-walled complex.
Supporters said, “We had come to the ashram for a ‘satsang’ (religious gathering) a few days back. Later, we were asked to stay back and were not allowed to come out. The private commandos said that we will be safe inside and will be provided with food and taken care of.”
Several Haryana Roadways buses on Wednesday parked along the roads close to the Ashram, to ferry the followers who wish to travel to the Hisar bus stand and the Railway station.
Bureau Report
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