More arms, bulletproof jackets recovered from Rampal's ashram
2 News, India/November 24, 2014
Barwala: Shortly after the Haryana police on Sunday took the arrested self-styled godman Rampal back to his Satlok ashram, as a part of investigation into the recent Hisar violence, two bulletproof jackets, more weapons and over 4,200 sticks among other things were recovered, officials said.
During the search operation, as per a police official two bullet proof jackets, four .315 bore rifles, five .12 bore rifles and other ammunition were found from the ashram.
The recovery was made on a day when police's special investigation team (SIT) brought Rampal back to his ashram in custody for investigations. Rampal was arrested by the police on Wednesday after a high-voltage stand-off and clashes between his supporters and security forces.
The SIT had earlier claimed that it had found a "huge cache" of weapons and ammunition from the ashram complex. These included three .32 bore revolvers, 19 air guns, two double-barrel .12 bore guns, two .315 bore rifles, and ammunition for these weapons.
Haryana's Director General of Police SN Vashisht and Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar Rao Sunday also visited the ashram complex near here.
Police recovered 4,250 sticks, 171 helmets, 235 pairs of black uniform (meant for Rampal's private commandos), 12 petrol bombs and other equipment used by his supporters to prevent the security forces from entering the 12-acre ashram complex, located near Barwala town in Haryana's Hisar district, 210 km from Chandigarh.
Police had earlier found a bullet-proof enclosure for giving sermons, a bullet-proof SUV, a personal swimming pool, several air-conditioners including 1ACs even in his bathrooms, flat-screen LED TVs, gym equipment, massage beds and other luxuries lined up for Rampal.
The spokesman said that the search operation would continue at the ashram for the next few days.
Rampal has been slapped with cases of murder, attempt to murder, sedition, rioting, illegal detention and others.
Six people - five women and an infant - lost their lives in the stand-off between Rampal followers and security forces last week., who was taken into the police custody last Wednesday after a stand-off of nearly 10 days and violent clashes between his supporters and security forces, is currently in police custody following court orders.
This is the first time that the sect leader was brought back to his 12-acre Ashram complex near this town in Hisar district, 210 km from Chandigarh, after his arrest.
Police officials here said that Rampal was brought here to help the special investigation team (SIT), which is searching his ashram complex since Thursday, uncover the secrets of the complex, including huge lockers kept there.
During the search of one of the warehouses Sunday, the police teams recovered hundreds of sticks. These were kept for use by Rampal supporters to thwart any move by police to enter the premises.
Rampal has been slapped with cases of murder, attempt to murder, sedition, rioting, illegal detention and others.
Six people, including five women and an infant, lost their lives in the stand-off between Rampal followers and security forces last week.
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