Jodhpur a fortress ahead of verdict
ASARAM RAPE CASE Special court to pronounce order on April 25 JODHPUR:
Security has been heightened in Jodhpur ahead of a verdict scheduled for Wednesday against self-styled godman Asaram in a rape case.
Following a Rajasthan high court order, the court of special judge SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) will pronounce the verdict in the Jodhpur central jail, where Asaram is housed.
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Ashok Rathore reviewed these security arrangements in the city. He told reporters that said Section 144 has already been enforced in the city.
“We are glad the court accepted our request to deliver the judgement from inside the jail premises,” he added.
The police are also seeking support from neighbouring states following reports that Asaram’s followers plan to arrive in Jodhpur on or before the verdict.
Paramilitary forces will be deployed if required, he said.
DCP (East) Amandeep Singh Kapoor said, in view of the HC order, the security of the prison campus has been increased.
The prohibitory orders were imposed in the Jodhpur Police Commissionerate area on April 21. Asaram ashram in Jodhpur is also being regularly monitored.
The ashram operators have been directed to ensure that Asaram’s followers do not reach Jodhpur on April 25.
Kapoor said that the railways and roadways authorities have been asked to remain vigilant so that the suspects or individual followers of Asaram could be identified.
DCP said that regular checks at hotels and Dharmashals were being carried out. Police are also gathering intelligence inputs so that there is no untoward incident on Wednesday.
Central Jail Superintendent Vikram singh said that the a separate court room will not be set up in the jail premises, as a TADA court had earlier been functioning there.
The trial in the case against Asaram was held for some time in the jail court room before being shifted to the special court on the orders of the High Court. He said that the court room has been made operational.