Police, Rampal supporters clash in Hisar

According to reports, several people have been injured in the incident so far.

The police used to teargases  and water canons to disperse the Rampal's supporters.

The police reached the venue to arrest the self-styled  godman as thousands of his supporters are trying to guard him for the past few days by even forming a human shield.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued a new warrant against Rampal after he failed to appear before it.

  Reports said he earlier did not appear for hearing in court on 42 occasions.

Supporters of Rampal had said he is sick and would not be able to travel to the court, said media reports. They said they would furnish a medical certificate before court. 

The police have orders to arrest and produce Rampal before the court on Friday.

The spiritual leader, who runs Satlok Ashram in Hisar, was to be arrested by the police. But the state government reportedly felt arresting Rampal would lead to serious law and order problems.

An arrest warrant had been issued against him on Nov 5.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the government to produce Rampal  in connection with a petition filed by a group of lawyers who were attacked by his followers.

The petition also appealed the court to cancel the godman’s bail, reports said.

Last year, Rampal’s followers had clashed with villagers in Rohtak and three people were killed in the incident.

Sources said Rampal was out on bail in a similar incident in 2006 when his supporters had opened fire on villagers. He had also shifted base from Chandigarh to Hisar’s Barwala after he was granted bail.