Indian police were Thursday scouring the ashram of a controversial guru for explosives after his arrest ended a bloody stand-off with thousands of followers and a long siege during which six people died.
Officers finally gained access to the vast complex where self-styled "godman" Rampal Maharaj had been holed up for over a week, guarded by devotees armed with stones, petrol bombs and other weapons, until his arrest on Wednesday on murder and other charges.
Thousands of followers have poured out of the heavily guarded ashram since police forced their way in on Tuesday, but around 3,000 more remain inside the 4.8-hectare (12-acre) compound in northern Haryana state.
Families were separated by a large concrete barrier, with men on one side of a vast hall where followers slept on mattresses on the floor, and women and children on the other. CCTV cameras had been set up around the building to monitor their movements.
"They said that those who left earlier were beaten by police and arrested... We decided not to leave after that," said Ajay Kumar Mandal, who had been at the ashram with his wife and children since November 4.
"I'll leave now. As for the conditions, they were very good," he told an AFP reporter.
Around 100 devotees were injured in clashes with police, who found the bodies of four women and a child inside, although it remains unclear how they died.
- 'War-like situation' -
A sixth follower died after being taken to hospital apparently suffering from a heart condition.
Rampal told reporters after his arrest that he regretted the deaths, but denied police allegations he used his followers as human shields.
Jawan Singh said he had gone into the ashram in the hope that Rampal could cure his chronic back pain, but instead found himself at the centre of a running battle with police.
"I came here hoping that I'll get healed. Instead it was a war-like situation here," the 34-year-old told AFP from the window of a bus taking people away from the compound.
Police say they have arrested more than 500 devotees, including 250 members of a "private army" dedicated to Rampal's protection.
"It was a tough operation, we had to deal with hostile supporters," police inspector Anil Kumar told AFP.
"At the moment we are trying to clear the ashram, the clearing operations are on, our personnel are inside the ashram. They are trying to find if any explosives have been hidden there."
- Milk baths -
Devotees had travelled from across India and Nepal to see Rampal, a former engineer who considers himself an incarnation of the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir.
He claims to have cured chronic illnesses and says "ruined families have again become prosperous" by devoting themselves to his teachings.
Followers quoted in Indian media have said they were given prasad -- or holy food offerings -- made from milk Rampal had bathed in, and told this was the key complex to his "miracles".
Inside the ashram, a complex where the guru apparently lived with his inner circle contained a swimming pool and rooms equipped with large en-suite bathrooms and safes.
Most of the devotees lived in more basic conditions, but they said they were comfortable and well-fed, and some were unhappy about Rampal's detention.
"We still don't understand why the courts and government have gone against a man who was doing so much good for the poor people like us," said Manoj Kumar Majhi, one of the last followers to leave.
Haryana Chief Minister M.L. Khattar said no one had died as a result of the police operation, although 100 were being treated for injuries.
"Our plan was to achieve this (arrest) without a single person having to lose his life. We have been completely successful in this," he said on the NDTV network.
Police sought Rampal's arrest after he repeatedly refused court orders to appear to answer charges including conspiracy to murder, contempt of court and inciting mobs.
He is accused of ordering his disciples to fire on villagers during 2006 clashes with a rival cult in which one person was killed.
Rampal appeared briefly in court on Thursday and was remanded in custody until November 28.
India has been rocked by several scandals involving immensely popular "godmen", mostly Hindu ascetics who claim to possess mystical powers. Last year one was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.
For many Indians, gurus play an integral role in daily life and are seen as offering a pathway to enlightenment in return for spiritual devotion.
Indian police were Thursday scouring the ashram of a controversial guru for explosives after his arrest ended a bloody stand-off with thousands of followers and a long siege during which six people died.
Officers finally gained access to the vast complex where self-styled “godman” Rampal Maharaj had been holed up for over a week, guarded by devotees armed with stones, petrol bombs and other weapons, until his arrest on Wednesday on murder and other charges.
Thousands of followers have poured out of the heavily guarded ashram since police forced their way in on Tuesday, but around 3,000 more remain inside the 4.8-hectare (12-acre) compound in northern Haryana state.
Families were separated by a large concrete barrier, with men on one side of a vast hall where followers slept on mattresses on the floor, and women and children on the other. CCTV cameras had been set up around the building to monitor their movements.
“They said that those who left earlier were beaten by police and arrested… We decided not to leave after that,” said Ajay Kumar Mandal, who had been at the ashram with his wife and children since November 4.
“I’ll leave now. As for the conditions, they were very good,” he told an AFP reporter.
Around 100 devotees were injured in clashes with police, who found the bodies of four women and a child inside, although it remains unclear how they died.
– ‘War-like situation’ –
A sixth follower died after being taken to hospital apparently suffering from a heart condition.
Rampal told reporters after his arrest that he regretted the deaths, but denied police allegations he used his followers as human shields.
Jawan Singh said he had gone into the ashram in the hope that Rampal could cure his chronic back pain, but instead found himself at the centre of a running battle with police.
“I came here hoping that I’ll get healed. Instead it was a war-like situation here,” the 34-year-old told AFP from the window of a bus taking people away from the compound.
Police say they have arrested more than 500 devotees, including 250 members of a “private army” dedicated to Rampal’s protection.
“It was a tough operation, we had to deal with hostile supporters,” police inspector Anil Kumar told AFP.
“At the moment we are trying to clear the ashram, the clearing operations are on, our personnel are inside the ashram. They are trying to find if any explosives have been hidden there.”
– Milk baths –
Devotees had travelled from across India and Nepal to see Rampal, a former engineer who considers himself an incarnation of the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir.
He claims to have cured chronic illnesses and says “ruined families have again become prosperous” by devoting themselves to his teachings.
Followers quoted in Indian media have said they were given prasad — or holy food offerings — made from milk Rampal had bathed in, and told this was the key complex to his “miracles”.
Inside the ashram, a complex where the guru apparently lived with his inner circle contained a swimming pool and rooms equipped with large en-suite bathrooms and safes.
Most of the devotees lived in more basic conditions, but they said they were comfortable and well-fed, and some were unhappy about Rampal’s detention.
“We still don’t understand why the courts and government have gone against a man who was doing so much good for the poor people like us,” said Manoj Kumar Majhi, one of the last followers to leave.
Haryana Chief Minister M.L. Khattar said no one had died as a result of the police operation, although 100 were being treated for injuries.
“Our plan was to achieve this (arrest) without a single person having to lose his life. We have been completely successful in this,” he said on the NDTV network.
Police sought Rampal’s arrest after he repeatedly refused court orders to appear to answer charges including conspiracy to murder, contempt of court and inciting mobs.
He is accused of ordering his disciples to fire on villagers during 2006 clashes with a rival cult in which one person was killed.
Rampal appeared briefly in court on Thursday and was remanded in custody until November 28.
India has been rocked by several scandals involving immensely popular “godmen”, mostly Hindu ascetics who claim to possess mystical powers. Last year one was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.
For many Indians, gurus play an integral role in daily life and are seen as offering a pathway to enlightenment in return for spiritual devotion.
