Murder case against Rampal: Hisar a fort ahead of verdict
HISAR: A day ahead of the court verdict in two murder cases against self-styled godman Rampal and 27 of his followers, the administration of Haryana’s Hisar Wednesday deployed more than 4,000 police personnel, besides the Rapid Action Force and paramilitary troops, to maintain law and order in the district and surrounding areas.
The court of additional district and sessions judge DR Chalia will pronounce the verdict in the 2014 cases Thursday. The administration is concerned that thousands of followers of Rampal might throng the city as they have done on similar occasions in the past. Violence unleashed by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh after he was found guilty of rape in August last year left more than 30 people dead. Final arguments in the cases against Rampal, head of Satlok Ashram, and his followers were completed on Monday.
Rampal and 27 of his followers were booked on charges of murder and wrongful confinement after four women and a child were found dead in Satlok Ashram in Barwala town of Hisar on November 19, 2014.
It followed police action to arrest him after a clash of his followers with local residents. Another case was registered against Rampal and his followers after a woman was found dead in his ashram on November 18. A total of 80 witnesses, including doctors who conducted the postmortems on the victims, deposed during the trial, said Rampal’s counsel MS Nain. Deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena said the police and paramilitary forces took out a flag march in Hisar city, adjoining villages, and near the central jail where Rampal is lodged. The DC had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the district on Monday. The admin has formed teams under the leadership of 27 sub-divisional magistrates and 40 DSPS to ensure law and order.besides DC Meena, inspector general of police (Hisar range) Sanjay Kumar and Hisar superintendent of police Shiv Charan will closely monitor the situation.
Talking to HT, DC Meena said, “No one will be allowed to breach law and order...police will deal in a strict way if anyone is found disturbing peace in the district.”he added that if required, the police will also use force to maintain law and order.the internet services, he said, could also be barred, if the need be, though no such orders have been given so far. In a recent letter to the DC, the Hisar SP anticipated that between 10,000 to 20,000 followers of Rampal can reach Hisar ahead of the verdict.