Verdict for Asaram in jail court set up to try Khalistan militants Police presence renders Asaram Jodhpur ashram a desolate place
HISTORY Special TADA court stopped functioning in 1988 after Punjab govt withdrew cases against the accused
A day before the verdict in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram, his ashram in Jodhpur’s Pal village is a quiet and desolate place.
About a dozen policemen, most of them red-eyed and sleep-deprived, are camping outside the ashram’s main gate. The ashram has been cleared of devotees, who were packed in buses and sent to their respective native places.
Around six people have been allowed to stay back at the ashram for taking care of the cows, said a cop manning the gate of the sprawling ashram.
A police jeep is parked at the turn leading to the ashram from the main road, while the other patrols the area. The area is mostly deserted, except for a few who sit outside their home, as the Sun City’s fierce sunshine recedes. An elderly lady from the neighbourhood said generally there are fewer than a dozen people in the ashram. “When Asaram would come for pravachan, he’d stay here. Some 50-60 odd people would come and stay with him,” said the lady, choosing to be anonymous.
Lokesh, a college graduate from the neighbourhood, added that in recent years the devotees would flock the ashram on days when he was to appear in court.
JODHPUR:
“Whenever he would come, there would be at least 15 cars with him. Baba’s devotees came mostly from outside. The village has no Asaram devotees,” said Lokesh.
Outside the ashram gate is a board declaring that women who go to temples for worship, or meet saints in ashram while menstruating incur great sin. “Attention! You can come after five days. If you commit the mistake then you must keep the Rishi Panchami fast,” read the board.
A tyre shop owner nearby, who did not want to be named, said that the women were not allowed inside the ashram after 8 pm. “The ashram is spread over nine bighas. There are mango, tulsi and amla trees and a beautiful garden. I go inside just for a stroll in the evening. Sometimes, I pay a visit to the Shiv temple inside,” he said.
He adds that the ashram also has cows and the residents consume the milk and other products. “Even if you were to take some milk from there, they won’t charge you money,” he said.
MHA ISSUES PRECAUTIONARY ADVISORY
The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday issued an advisory to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana to step up security to prevent any untoward incident when a trial court delivers verdict in the rape case against Asaram.
The ministry also is in touch with the states concerned and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba has spoken to top level administrative and police officials over the issue.
NEWDELHI: