Supporters decry Asaram’s arrest, protest across Mumbai

The arrest of self-styled godman Asaram on Sunday brought his supporters out on to the city’s streets, with the protesters demanding his immediate release.

The arrest of self-styled godman Asaram on Sunday brought his supporters out on to the city’s streets, with the protesters demanding his immediate release.

Asaram was arrested in Indore on Saturday after a 16-year-old girl filed a police complaint claiming he had sexually assaulted her.

“We feel that Asaram has been falsely implicated, and his arrest has come as an insult to lakhs of his supporters,” said Ram Bhai, who heads the Asaramji Ashram at Goregaon. “However, members of the ashram did not participate in the protest. His supporters decided to protest on their own,” he said.

Scores of supporters staged a rail roko at Ulhasnagar station around 12.30pm, delaying local trains between the KalyanKarjat sections for more than half an hour. They shouted slogans saying, “Asaram Bapu is innocent; he should be left free from any allegations and arrest.”

Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables arrived at the spot to control the situation. Yusu Pathan, RPF in-charge said “We tried controlling the situation We have captured videos of the protest, through which we wil arrest some of the protesters after we investigate the matter.”

(inputs from Sajana Nambiar)