Even as self-styled godman Rampal continued to cool his heels in a police lock-up in Hisar, searches by the Special Investigation Team at his Satlok Ashram on the third day revealed a bulletproof vehicle, several locked vaults and three persons, who were hiding in different parts of the ashram, police said.
Police sources said Rampal has been questioned for nearly 10 hours. While the SIT is conducting searches at the ashram after dividing it into six sectors, other teams are working on the recovery of arms from outside the ashram, and checking his bank accounts, his connections with Naxalites and his foreign connections.
The police said the bullet proof Tata Safari vehicle recovered from the premises was used by Rampal for travel. They have also seized a bus, a Maruti Gypsy, two tractors with trolleys and an oil tanker. During the confrontation with the police on November 18, supporters of Rampal had used petrol bombs to prevent the police advance towards the ashram.
Police sources said Rampal has been booked under 20 sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act in the FIR lodged against him and his supporters at Barwala in connection with the violence. The charges also pertain to sedition and murder, which are punishable by death.
For the second day, Rampal remained confined to the police lock-up where he had dal-roti in the morning. During interrogation, he allegedly told the police that he was misguided by his followers into resisting court appearances and arrest.
The police have arrested 865 people in connection with the violence so far.
