Indian Police Find Bodies at Wanted Guru's Ashram
Police discovered five bodies Wednesday after storming the ashram of a wanted guru in northern India where thousands of followers have been holed up for days, as a sixth supporter died in hospital.
Authorities made the discovery after they used tear gas and batons to force their way into the heavily-guarded ashram of self-styled "godman" Rampal Maharaj, who is wanted on a series of charges including conspiracy to murder.
They found the bodies of four women and an 18-month-old child at the sprawling compound 175 kilometres (108 miles) northeast of New Delhi where they believe Rampal is hiding out, said Haryana state's director general of police SN Vashisht.
The child appeared to have died of natural causes but it was unclear how or when the four women lost their lives, he said, adding that another woman died after being taken to hospital apparently suffering from a heart condition.
"All dead bodies have been sent to the hospital where they will undergo a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of their deaths," he said.
Thousands of people have poured out of the ashram since Tuesday when police stormed in, but authorities say 5,000 followers are still holding out inside the 4.8-hectare (12-acre) compound.
Authorities are sending 500 paramilitaries to the town of Barwala, where the ashram is located, to try to quell the unrest, a home ministry source told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.
Followers armed with stones, petrol bombs and other weapons had guarded the ashram for days after a court ordered the arrest of their guru, before police went in with water cannon and tear gas.
Police are seeking Rampal's arrest after he repeatedly refused court orders to appear to answer charges including conspiracy to murder, inciting mobs and contempt of court.
- Human shields -
"We have already saved around 10,000 lives and around another 5,000 people are inside. We will save their lives and arrest the wanted man," said Vashisht.
Several supporters said they had to fight their way out of the ashram, while police claimed they had been used as human shields to protect the guru.
"What started as a trickle hasn't yet stopped and we have dropped off around 10,000 people at nearby bus and train stations," assistant police superintendent Jashandeep Singh said of the followers.
"The people who left the ashram mostly said that they were being held against their will, as a shield for the guru against any police action," Singh told AFP from outside the ashram.
Police said they were checking those leaving the ashram in case Rampal, a former engineer who considers himself an incarnation of the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir, was hiding in the crowd.
They accuse him of ordering his disciples to fire on villagers during clashes in 2006 in which one person was killed and scores injured -- charges Rampal's website says are "false".
Rampal claims his hundreds of thousands of followers across India have had chronic illnesses cured and "ruined families have again become prosperous" by devoting themselves to his teachings.
Disciples must give up alcohol, smoking, meat, eggs, adultery and gambling, while singing and dancing is banned along with worship of "any other god or goddess".
Born in a village in Haryana state to a family of farmers, Rampal obtained a diploma in engineering and later worked at the state's government's irrigation department.
Rampal went door to door proselytising on behalf of a seer called Ramdevanand and, with an ever growing flock of disciples, opened his ashram in 1999.
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. They say they offer a pathway to enlightenment in return for spiritual devotion and often give donations to ashrams, temples and charity projects.
Source: Agence France Presse
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