Sect leader stand-off: Six dead, police rule out negotiations

Chandigarh/Barwala, Nov 19:

Haryana Police Wednesday confirmed that five women and a child have died during the stand-off between controversial sect leader Rampal’s followers and the security forces.

The police said that the operation to arrest Rampal would continue and there would be no negotiations with him.

Haryana Director General of Police S.N. Vashisht told media here that bodies of four women were handed over by Satlok Ashram authorities to police Wednesday while one woman and an 18-month-old child died in hospital.

The DGP said that none of the victims bore any bodily injuries. He said that the exact cause of their death would be known only after post-mortem examination.

He said one woman and the child died because proper medical attention was not being given to them in time.

“Our operation will continue till we arrest the accused (Rampal). We have given a deadline to people inside the ashram to vacate the premises. Many of them have been forced to stay inside. No negotiations would be held with him (Rampal),” Vashisht said.

Rampal continued to evade arrest even as hundreds of his followers left his ashram here in Haryana Wednesday morning.

Police sources said that Rampal and private army of volunteers were holding followers hostage inside the premises. “They are using women and children as shields,” a police officer said. (IANS)