A swimming pool inside Rampal's Satlok ashram in Hisar, Haryana
There are no more people inside the sprawling 12-acre ashram of Rampal, a self-styled "godman" in Haryana, and it has been sealed and is being guarded now by the Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF. (
Am Sorry About Followers' Deaths, Says Arrested Guru Rampal)
In searches at the ashram, 33 weapons - 23-12 bore rifles, 10. 315 bore rifles and a pistol - were found, besides a few Molotov cocktails.
The Haryana Police has set up a Special Investigation Team and said searches at the ashram would continue. Rampal meanwhile has been shifted to the Hisar Central Jail.
Police say that apart from the guru, they have arrested more than 500 followers, including 250 members of a "private army" dedicated to his protection, some of whom were armed with knives. (
In 5 pics: the story of Rampal and his ashram)
Even on Thursday morning, hours after Rampal's arrest, hundreds huddled over breakfast in an open eating area in the Hisar ashram. Amid stacks of blankets sat bewildered followers of the controversial guru - he said to have more than 25 lakh followers - many refusing to leave. They were all persuaded to leave by early evening.
The ashram has a huge common kitchen to feed the thousands that gathered there and huge piles of food grain stocked up.
There is a library and an infirmary too. The ashram reportedly also had big lecture halls with LED screens.
Rampal lived in a five-storey building in the complex. As policemen broke into the building, this morning, they discovered a swimming pool. That is not the only luxury Rampal, who was a junior engineer in the state government's service till 14 years ago, enjoyed. He is said to also own a fleet of luxury cars including BMWs and Mercedes.
Curiously, all doors to Rampal's mansion were locked this morning. The police had to break down doors and windows and climb to higher floors using ladders. Entire floors had been shrouded in netting. Many parts of the ashram were under construction.
The complex was difficult to enter. The ashram has 30 feet high walls surrounding it. These walls are two feet thick.