Asaram Bapu rape case verdict: Centre asks three states to tighten security

Self-styled godman and rape accused Asaram Bapu. (File) 

The Centre Tuesday asked Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana to tighten security and deploy additional forces ahead of the verdict by a Jodhpur court in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram, an official said. In a communication, the Home Ministry told the three states to beef up security and ensure that no violence takes place after the verdict.

The three states were also told to deploy additional forces in sensitive places, the Home Ministry official said. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana have a large number of followers of Asaram. A court in Jodhpur is set to pronounce its verdict in the rape case against Asaram Wednesday.

Asaram is accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the self-styled godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The victim had alleged that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

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The Home Ministry advisory has been sent in view of the fact that largescale violence was witnessed in Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh after a special court pronounced its verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim last year.