LIVE: Godman Rampal’s supporters clash with police, many injured in crossfire at Hisar ashram

Followers shield the Satlok Ashram of Sant Rampal in Hisar on Monday to resist his arrest. (Source: PTI)

Police have been firing water cannons since 12:10 pm to control the unruly mob, which has assembled for the past few days to prevent his arrest.

Barwala ashram – “Attack on media is inhumane. Govt shudn’t forget constitution. Law is always supreme” – Randeep Surjewala @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala ashram – “It had become government’s compulsion to launch a crackdown on the ashram” – OP Dhankar, Hry Cab Min @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala Ashram – “Our endeavour is to minimise the casualties, operation has begun in full throttle” Satender Kumar, SP (hisar)

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala Ashram – as counter firing takes place, cops yet to enter ashram @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala Ashram – Trolleys full of stones, acid-bombs parked inside ashram – police sources claim, but cops won’t get bk now @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala Ashram – Cops struggling hard to enter the Ashram for arresting Baba Rampal, followers resisting wid stones,gunshots @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala Ashram – Cops looked determined this time to nab Baba Rampal “at any cost” as HC ordered @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala – Gunshots being fired from both the sides, ashram’s followers and cops attack each other @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala ashram – Media also attacked, lensmen’s cameras broken, reporters assaulted outside Satlok Ashram @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

Barwala ashram – Casualties expected as both sides refuse to get back. Cops trying to barge in, followers fire from rooftops @IndianExpress

— Varinder Bhatia (@78vbhatia) November 18, 2014

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Earlier on Monday, animated supporters of self-styled godman Rampal thwarted the police efforts to arrest him from his Hisar ashram after he again failed to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a contempt case.

Security men stand guard in front of the Satlok Ashram for the arrest of Sant Rampal in Hisar on Monday. (Source: PTI

The supporters poured kerosene and diesel on themselves, and threatened self-immolation as the police tried to barge into the Satlok ashram. The police, meanwhile, have started dispersing supporters and removing vehicles of the followers in order to storm the compound.

“All devotees of Baba Rampal Satlok ashram have been asked to vacate it as soon as possible. Followers who peacefully come out of the ashram will be provided with facilities to reach the railway station and bus stand,” said M L Kaushik, Hisar deputy commissioner.

Earlier, the High Court issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Rampal even as his ashram’s spokesperson Raj Kapur claimed that he had already been shifted to a private hospital because of his “deteriorating” health. He, however, did not name the hospital.

Rampal, who is facing charges of conspiracy to murder, inciting mobs and contempt of court, was asked to appear before the High Court. He has failed to appear before the court thrice – November 5, November 10 and the latest being Monday.

The ashram’s claims, however, were disputed by Haryana DGP S N Vashisht. “As per our information, he is very much inside the ashram. The entire ashram has been cordoned off by the police. Thus, there is no chance that he could have been moved out,” he told The Indian Express.

Observing that the Haryana government was lacking the “will” to arrest Rampal who was “bold enough” to hide inside the Satlok ashram behind a human shield, the High Court asked the police to produce him on November 21.

The division bench comprising Justices Jeyapaul and Darshan Singh made it clear to Haryana DGP Shriniwas Vashisht and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) P K Mahapatra, who were present at the hearing, that in case they failed to ensure execution of the fresh non-bailable warrant against the godman, both would again appear before it with an explanation.

The court said it was “pained to note” that the Central government, the governments of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Chandigarh administration had incurred huge expenditure for deploying force for implementation of the

HC’s directions. It, later, directed the Assistant Solicitor General of India, Advocate Generals of Punjab and Haryana, and Senior Standing Counsel of Chandigarh to file a statement reflecting the expenditure borne during the hearing of the case and also during the course of implementation of the High Court orders.

Refusing to entertain the state government’s explanations that Rampal’s arrest could lead to loss of human lives due to perceived violence, the court said, “We are not believing all those excuses. Do you think that small-time criminals will take advantage of such situation?”

Appearing for Rampal, advocate S K Garg Narwana submitted, “He is unwell. He is ready to appear before the court within a week when he is well. There is no need to use force.”