Rampal's remaining disciples giving Hisar police a tough time

More than seven months since he was arrested, besides 900 of his supporters, self-styled godman Rampal's disciples are still giving the police sleepless nights.

More than seven months since he was arrested, besides 900 of his supporters, self-styled godman Rampal's disciples are still giving the police sleepless nights.

Sources in the police say they are finding it hard to arrest the remaining 47 confidantes of Rampal, who, according them, are the ones managing huge crowds in Hisar whenever the controversial religious figure is taken to the court for hearings.

The runaway Rampal disciples include the godman's son, besides his spokesperson, Rahul.

Police sources said the two are the main forces working to strengthen the network of the godman, who headed the Satlok Ashram at Barwala.

Sources said police have got information that the network uses short messaging services (SMS) and other social media services to call on supporters from Haryana as well as the other states whenever Rampal is scheduled to be taken to court.

They said supporters are mainly called on behalf of a 'satsang' (religious gathering), but are then told to line roads through which the police cavalcade with Rampal would pass, and also outside the Hisar court.

"It was illustrated recently on Sant Kabir Jayanti when thousands of Rampal followers came to Hisar on the pretext of satsang and assembled to show their support for Rampal," the sources added. "Police later dispersed them."

The police so far have not declared the 47 of the godman's followers as fugitives. However, to crack a whip on the network, police here have now formed a special team headed by inspector Anil Kumar to arrest them. Anil Kumar was station head of Barwala police station when Rampal was arrested from his ashram.

"We are continuously working to get hold of all them. We will soon get a breakthrough in this case," deputy superintendent of police, Rajbir Saini said.