Key aide arrested, police slaps sedition charges against 'missing' Rampal

According to TV reports, The case has been filed under Sections 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the state) and 122 (Collecting arms etc. with the intention of waging war against the Government of India).

Besides, the cases have also been slapped against the accused under Sections 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and other charges that include attempt to murder, assault and under various Sections of the Arms Act.

Police has reportedly said that cases were registered late on Tuesday night against Rampal ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor, Rampal's brother Purshottam Dass and several other followers.

Police have arrested Purushottam, who is also a key functionary while trying to flee the ashram.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, reports emerged that four women have died inside the ashram.

A fifth woman, a 20-year-old, reportedly had a heart condition and died in hospital.

Death of a 18-month-old infant have also been reported.

Police said that they are fully engaged in operation to arrest self-styled Sant Rampal who is still holed up inside the campus where he is being protected by thousands of his supporters leading to a standoff with the cops.

"We will arrest him and take him to court. Operation will continue without halt. Rampal is still in the ashram," Haryana director general of police S. N. Vashisht said while addressing a press conference.

"Anyone obstructing us will have to face law," said Vashisht adding that Police has not yet entered the ashram.

He said people are being rescued by police and four bodies of women who died were handed over to police.

"Police have no clue when they died. Only post-mortem can tell the cause of their deaths but they had no injuries in their bodies," he said giving details of some deaths occurring inside the ashram.

But the main accused, Rampal is still yet to be traced. Police suspects he is still hiding somewhere inside the 12 acre ashram complex.

Meanwhile, tension still continue to prevail in the Hisar a day after police raided Rampal's "Satlok Ashram".

On Tuesday, Barwala town on the outskirts of Hisar turned into a battle zone  after police tried to arrest Sant Rampal, who is wanted in a eight-year-old murder case.

Policemen in riot gear used teargas shells, water-cannons, batons and bulldozers Tuesday to enter controversial guru Rampal's sprawling "Satlok Ashram" at Hisar in Haryana as thousands of his supporters fought to prevent his arrest.

It has been learnt that over 200 people including policemen were injured in Tuesday's violence. Over 70 journalists were also among the injured.

Vashisht said at least 3000 people, including women and infants, were sitting outside the ashram as a human wall.

After hours of jostling and battling with armed supporters, police returned empty-handed, as they couldn't find 63-year-old Rampal.

According to police, the ashram is built like a maze and has deadly traps within.

About 10,000 followers have left the ashram, while 5000 more could have still been holed up inside, police added.

The police went to arrest Rampal after the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against Rampal in a contempt case.

Court ordered the government to arrest Rampal by Friday.

Rampal was charged with murder and other offences that took place on July 12, 2006 after one person died and several others were injured following a violent clash between his followers and another group.

He along along with 38 others was being tried in a sessions court of Rohtak.

Rampal, an engineer-turned-guru has reportedly skipped court 43 times in four years in the case.

He was granted bail by the High court on April 2, 2008.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court again summoned Rampal in person after his supporters allegedly attacked a group of lawyers during a hearing on the murder case last month.

The controversial guru has managed to avoid arrest despite three warrants since November 5.

Supporters of Rampal had said he is sick and would not be able to travel to the court.

But, HC rejected the plea, which took strict cognisance of the fact that Rampal's supporters attacked lawyers.

The bench of justice M Jeyapaul rejected Rampal’s counsel’s request for hearing through video-conferencing or more time on account of ill health. “We are prepared to address that health issue."

On Monday, Punjab and Haryana high court had again expressed displeasure over the failure of the Haryana government in executing non-bailable warrants (NBW) against Rampal in the contempt case.

The state government earlier argued in court that Rampal is unwell and cannot be arrested as his supporters could turn violent, but judges said "the will to arrest him is lacking."

While issuing fresh NBWs against Rampal, the HC had observed, “Police authorities cannot unduly wait for days together to execute the warrants issued by this court… (It) is bound to send a wrong signal to the public.”

After this, the court severely reprimanded state administration, accusing them of being reluctant to arrest Rampal and produce him before court.

After that High Court on Monday issued a new warrant against Rampal after he failed to appear before it.

In early days, Rampal, who was working with Haryana irrigation department as a junior engineer, was later sacked.