Hisar: Many of the thousands of men, women and children who formed a protective ring around self-styled godman Rampal, who faces arrest in a murder case are now abandoning their position saying, “we were forced to stay there by the baba and his supporters.”
"Baba has locked people in and is not letting them come out. I had come here for the first time," said a devotee to a news channel, walking out of the main gates barefoot. In a hurry to escape, he apparently left his belongings and even shoes inside.
Initially a very few ‘protectors' began leaving the ashram on Monday, but by evening the walk out gained momentum as more and more people flooded out Rampal's Satlok Ashram.
The police is facing Haryana High Court's heat for failing to arrest Rampal, hence people's walk out is observed with satisfaction by the police and SWAT commandos.
A third warrant was issued by HC Monday, but the police are worried about violence by his supporters. They believe some men inside the ashram are carrying deadly weapons.
Rampal failed to appear in court on Monday. Water and power supply has been cut off to the ashram and no food has been allowed inside. To cut them off further, the police have removed water tankers and trucks and buses that were providing diesel to run generators.
The 63-year-old self styled godman is out on bail in a case in 2006 when his supporters opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak. A group of lawyers has petitioned the court to cancel his bail after they were allegedly attacked by his supporters earlier this year.
Rampal has skipped court hearings 43 times since 2010.
The state government argued in court yesterday that Rampal is unwell and cannot be arrested.
