Asaram Bapu’s supporters detained

Jaipur  : At least half a dozen supporters of Asaram Bapu were detained in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city Saturday for assaulting media persons covering developments in a sexual assault case registered against the spiritual guru, police said.

After the attack which left a TV reporter and a cameraman seriously injured, prohibitory orders were issued banning gathering of more than four people in the area where Asaram Bapu’s ashram is situated near Jodhpur city.

“We have lodged a first information report (FIR) in connection with the attack on media persons and rounded up about six persons,” said the officer.

Police sealed the ashram’s main gate and used mild force to disperse his supporters who started gathering in the morning following reports of Asaram’s impending arrest.

A police officer said: “As a team has left to question Asaram and then probably arrest him, we fear that the law and order situation may further get out of control.”

Asaram Bapu was Tuesday served notice at his ashram in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, asking him to appear before police in Jodhpur for questioning before or on Aug 30.

However, he failed to turn up following which a Jodhpur police team left to track him down and interrogate him.

A police officer said that Asaram will be placed under custody and brought to Jodhpur.
“He may be arrested after that,” the officer added.

“His followers may create ruckus. So we have deployed heavy police force near the ashram and other places in Jodhpur,” the officer said, adding that prohibitory orders had also been issued.

The officer added that a battalion of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) had also been stationed.

“We will provide security to the media persons covering the developments in the case,” said the official.

Asaram Bapu has been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code. A look-out circular has also been issued against the spiritual guru to prevent any attempt by him to leave the country.

A police team also inspected the spiritual guru’s ashram near Jodhpur and recorded statements of several people to verify whether the girl and her parents were present at the ashram Aug 15 when the alleged incident took place.

“During preliminary investigation, it has come up that the girl and her parents and Asaram Bapu were present Aug 15. The owner of the land, which is being used for the ashram, told police that the girl and her parents had come to the ashram to meet him,” said the official.