Self-Styled 'Godman' Rampal Arrested, Whisked Away In Ambulance

BARWALA: After evacuating close to 15,000 of his followers, police has finally arrested self-styled 'godman' Rampal from his ashram where four women had died mysteriously and two others in hospital in the midst of a showdown.

Rampal was Wednesday whisked away in an ambulance by police.

The deaths of five women and an infant occurred during a stand-off and violent clashes between the controversial sect leader's followers and the security forces.

Senior police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and Haryana Police entered the ashram complex evening and Rampal was arrested just after 9 p.m.

"We have arrested him. He is in our custody. He is being taken to hospital for medical examination," a senior police officer said outside the ashram.

"He will be produced in the relevant court tomorrow ," he said.

Police sources said Rampal would be taken to Chandigarh after medical examination. He is likely to be presented in a court there.

There was not much resistance offered by Rampal's supporters and his private army when he was finally taken into custody after 9 p.m., a police officer told IANS.

Sources said Rampal's face was covered with a cloth when he was brought out from inside the ashram.

"The mission (to arrest) has been completed successfully," said Jawahar Yadav, officer on special duty (OSD) to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.