Hisar Stand-off

After a face off between the Haryana government and supporters of Rampal, BJP mouthpiece decries ashrams run by 'godmen' as 'centers of terror'.

Rampal Maharaj, the 63-year-old guru who was arrested from his fortified ashram in Haryana last night, has said he regrets the deaths of six of his followers, but stressed that he did not use his devotees as a human shield in a lengthy and violent stand-off with the police.

Rampal, the controversial guru arrested last night from his Haryana ashram after a two-week stand-off with the police, will be produced in court today. The 63-year-old has been charged with sedition or waging war against the nation. In hospital today, he said "I am sorry about death of followers, but didn't use any as a human shield."

Controversial godman Rampal showed signs of relenting late on Sunday night as his close aides said he would obey the High Court directive and appear before it on Monday if his "health" permits, easing the potential stand-off situation between authorities and his supporters.

Tension prevailed in Haryana's Hisar district on Saturday as thousands of followers of Rampal, a self-styled godman, geared up to thwart any attempt by the police to arrest him.

After a face off between the Haryana government and supporters of Rampal, BJP mouthpiece decries ashrams run by 'godmen' as 'centers of terror'.

Rampal Maharaj, the 63-year-old guru who was arrested from his fortified ashram in Haryana last night, has said he regrets the deaths of six of his followers, but stressed that he did not use his devotees as a human shield in a lengthy and violent stand-off with the police.

Rampal, the controversial guru arrested last night from his Haryana ashram after a two-week stand-off with the police, will be produced in court today. The 63-year-old has been charged with sedition or waging war against the nation. In hospital today, he said "I am sorry about death of followers, but didn't use any as a human shield."

Controversial godman Rampal showed signs of relenting late on Sunday night as his close aides said he would obey the High Court directive and appear before it on Monday if his "health" permits, easing the potential stand-off situation between authorities and his supporters.

Tension prevailed in Haryana's Hisar district on Saturday as thousands of followers of Rampal, a self-styled godman, geared up to thwart any attempt by the police to arrest him.