Hisar, Haryana:
Policemen in riot gear used teargas shells, batons and bulldozers to try and enter self-styled Godman Rampal's sprawling ashram at Hisar in Haryana, as thousands of his supporters fought to prevent his arrest.
Rampal, who faces arrest in a murder case, has been hiding in the ashram for over two weeks. His supporters targeted the police with gunfire and stones as a tense weeklong standoff boiled over on Tuesday. Thick smoke rose from the ashram's roof amid gunshots.
Several devotees were hit by police batons and SWAT commandos were seen carrying injured people. TV images showed a boy, wounded in the head and bleeding heavily, being carried to safety by Rampal's followers.
NDTV's crew was also injured in the clashes and their cameras were allegedly snatched.
The police swooped in a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the government to arrest Rampal and produce him by Friday.
The spiritual leader has managed to avoid arrest for nearly two weeks despite three warrants, as a massive contingent of men, women and children have been sitting outside his ashram forming a human cordon.
On Monday, a spotter plane was reportedly used for dropping pamphlets asking devotees to leave the ashram ahead of possible police action.
Since morning, devotees have been leaving the ashram, many of them saying they were "forced" to stay by the baba and his supporters. Water and power supply had been cut off to the ashram two days ago and no food was allowed in a strategy to disperse the chain of protesters.
Rampal has skipped court 43 times in four years.
The state government argued in court on Monday that Rampal is unwell and cannot be arrested as his supporters could turn violent, but that did not wash with the judges who said sternly that "the will to arrest him is lacking."
The 63-year-old spiritual guru 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, who faces arrest in a murder case, has been hiding in the ashram for over two weeks. His supporters targeted the police with gunfire and stones as a tense weeklong standoff boiled over on Tuesday. Thick smoke rose from the ashram's roof amid gunshots.
Several devotees were hit by police batons and SWAT commandos were seen carrying injured people. TV images showed a boy, wounded in the head and bleeding heavily, being carried to safety by Rampal's followers.
NDTV's crew was also injured in the clashes and their cameras were allegedly snatched.
The police swooped in a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the government to arrest Rampal and produce him by Friday.
The spiritual leader has managed to avoid arrest for nearly two weeks despite three warrants, as a massive contingent of men, women and children have been sitting outside his ashram forming a human cordon.
On Monday, a spotter plane was reportedly used for dropping pamphlets asking devotees to leave the ashram ahead of possible police action.
Since morning, devotees have been leaving the ashram, many of them saying they were "forced" to stay by the baba and his supporters. Water and power supply had been cut off to the ashram two days ago and no food was allowed in a strategy to disperse the chain of protesters.
Rampal has skipped court 43 times in four years.
The state government argued in court on Monday that Rampal is unwell and cannot be arrested as his supporters could turn violent, but that did not wash with the judges who said sternly that "the will to arrest him is lacking."
The 63-year-old spiritual guru 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.
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