Huge arms haul from Rampal’s ashram

The total number of arrests has gone up to 865

November 22, 2014 12:54 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:44 pm IST - CHANDIGARH:

Police arrive for a search operation at Satlok Ashram in Hisar.

Police arrive for a search operation at Satlok Ashram in Hisar.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Haryana Police on Friday recovered a huge cache of arms during search operations at Satlok Ashram in Barwala. It has taken three persons hiding there into custody. With this, the total number of arrests has gone up to 865.

A Haryana Police spokesperson said seizure included three .32 bore revolvers, 19 air guns, two double-barrel 12 bore guns, two 315 bore rifles, 103 live cartridges and a chilli grenade.

The team also found acid syringes, sticks, 20 pairs of black dresses and two tanks containing 800 litres of diesel. A pregnancy test strip was found in the room adjacent to Rampal’s in the ashram. The police also found petrol bombs, packets of chilli powder, a catapult, two empty cartridges of 12 bore and a large number of mattresses.

Meanwhile, Rampal spent a sleepless night in the police lock-up at the Civil Lines police station in Hisar.

Police sources said he was given a durrie and blanket. He refused dinner and only had tea in the morning.

Along with Rampal, nine of his associates have also been remanded in police custody by a local court to help in the investigations. The police are trying to establish if there was any truth in Rampal’s claim before the High Court that he too was held hostage in the ashram.

Cameras in toilets

The ashram was fully evacuated on Thursday. An unconscious woman was found locked in a bathroom. The spokesman said the search operations would continue for a few more days.

The police team has divided the 12-acre ashram into six parts for the purpose of carrying out searches. They are also trying to find out if there are some underground bunkers in the campus.

Sources in the police said Rampal’s own residential unit, which had air-conditioned bathrooms, modular kitchens and a swimming pool, was still being screened.

The police have found cameras in some of the women’s toilets and are trying to establish if footage from these was being viewed in Rampal’s private chambers.

The spokesman said seven separate cases were registered against Rampal and his followers.

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