Barwala: Tension on Tuesday heightened dramatically around the Satlok Ashram of Rampal when supporters of the 'godman' opened fire using country-made weapons and hurled crude bombs on police in Barwala town of Haryana.
Unruly mob also pelted stones at security personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, when they tried to break the barricades of followers to enter into the ashram and arrest Rampal. According to reports, a number of people have been injured in the clashes.
In a bid to contain the situation, police personnel had to resort to lathicharge and firing of tear-gas shells. Media personnel also came under attack outside the ashram here.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has called an emergency meet in the wake of escalating tension.
As security personnel stepped up efforts to disperse the followers, said to be in thousands inside the Ashram, they faced stiff resistance.
A senior police official said supporters of the 'godman' were firing from inside the ashram but police was exercising maximum possible restraint to minimise casualties.
A portion of the outer wall of the ashram had been razed even as thick cloud of smoke was seen billowing from inside the premises.
Police also said that stones were being hurled at them from inside the ashram as several followers and Rampal's 'private army' had pitched themselves on the rooftop of the premises.
Authorities continued to face an uphill task in dispersing 'godman' Rampal's followers from the Ashram here.
Police said they were facing a hostile crowd, some of them armed, from inside, but they were using restraint to keep the casualities to the minimum.
The 63-year-old 'godman' was to appear before the High Court yesterday but he did not do so, with his counsel saying he was "unwell" and could not travel from Barwala to Chandigarh, a distance of about 270 kms. He wanted more time for his production.
The High Court then issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against him and asked the authorities to present him on Friday.
Rampal has cited health reasons for not appearing before the High Court earlier on three dates.
This morning, some disciples who managed to come out from the ashram claimed that "thousands" of people were inside the premises and a vast majority of them wanted to leave immediately but were being prevented by lathi-wielding supporters of the 'godman'.
A large number of women and children, are among those who are still inside the Satlok Ashram here, they claimed.
