Chandigarh: As the situation remained tense and volatile at the ashram of ‘godman' Rampal in Barwala town, Haryana DGP S N Vashisht today said security personnel were exercising maximum restraint as lives of women and children being used as “human shields” were involved.
Besides, the police had to deal with large number of arms, ammunition and an LPG dump inside the Satlok Ashram, he said, maintaining that the controversial figure was “100 per cent” still in the Ashram.
Vashisht along with Chief Minister's Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Kaushal and Additional Chief Secretary (Home), P K Mahapatra, briefed reporters about the entire operation.
The DGP said over 200 persons, including 100 policemen, followers and mediapersons, had received injuries during the course of the operation, in which firing and hurling of stones, petrol bombs and acid bottles from inside the Ashram had taken place.
A woman was found with serious burn injuries and it remained unclear how she got the injury, the DGP said, adding that no life had been lost in today's operation.
Fresh FIR has been slapped against Rampal as he has been held responsible for this entire operation and firing resulting in injuries to several people and putting innocent lives at stake, he said.
Two other FIRs have also been registered, he said. One in connection with the failed self-immolation attempt by 50 followers by pouring diesel on them, which was foiled by using water cannons.
The other is against Rampal and others for keeping the followers hostage inside the Ashram.
