Armed followers of self-styled godman Rampal have vowed to stop his arrest in a murder case
Armed with guns and sticks, followers of a self-styled godman on trial for murder are ranged outside his ashram in Haryana to stop anyone from arresting him. Rampal, who calls himself a spiritual leader and runs "Satlok Ashram" in Hisar, is facing trial in a 2006 case when his supporters opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak.
Rampal was to be arrested after a warrant by the Punjab and Haryana High Court last week, but the state government decided against it. The court today asked the government to explain why.
It had asked Rampal to appear for a hearing on a petition filed by a group of lawyers who were attacked by his followers earlier this year. The petition asks the court to cancel bail granted to the godman in the 2006 case.
Since 2010, Rampal has skipped court hearings 42 times, after seeking repeated exemptions.
The court asked him to appear last week but he again failed to do so, which led to a warrant. He was asked to appear on Monday but he called a religious meet on the weekend, apparently to evade summons.
The police have cited Rampal's medical condition for not arresting him but the government's lawyer said in court that "due to the religious gathering, any forcible action may lead to casualties."
Sources said the state government fear violence by Rampal's supporters and a law and order problem if he is arrested.
Rampal hasn't been seen since the warrant but a TV screen at his ashram shows him speaking to his "disciples".
There is tight security, not just in Hisar but also Chandigarh, where followers have gathered in large numbers near the High Court.
Police and paramilitary personnel have been posted across Chandigarh, especially at bus and railway stations.
Last year, Rampal's followers had clashed with villagers in Rohtak and three people were killed.