The stand-off between followers of a controversial, self-styled godman and security forces continued near this Haryana town with police failing to take him into custody till Sunday evening.
Hundreds of women and children, along with men followers of sect leader Rampal, continued to provide him a shield by blocking entry of the security forces into the Satlok Ashram to take custody of the controversial godman.
Tension mounted Sunday outside the ashram complex, located near Barwala town in Hisar district, as troopers and hundreds of police personnel surrounded the area.
Police sources said informal talks between the district authorities and the ashram management failed to break the impasse over his arrest.
The talks were held to impress upon Rampal's followers the need for them to let the sect leader be taken into custody peacefully.
The sect leader has to be presented in the Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday morning.
"If his medical condition improves, he will appear before the court," ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor said.
Informed sources said 15 battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), five companies of the Rapid Action Force and nearly 10,000 personnel of Haryana Police were stationed near the ashram complex, 210 km from Chandigarh.
The Hisar-Chandigarh highway has been sealed near Barwala.
"We have made adequate arrangements to take him into custody and produce him in court. We cannot share operational details," Hisar Superintendent of Police Satender Kumar Gupta told media.
Police officials at the spot said that despite the build-up, force was not used till Sunday evening to avoid casualties.
Rampal, a controversial sect leader who faces charges of murder, inciting mobs and contempt of court, remained holed up inside the complex.
Thousands of his supporters, including women and children, have been camping outside the complex for over a fortnight to prevent security forces from arresting him.
"We will not let police arrest him. We will not allow him to leave either. Police will have to kill us to take him away," said Nirmala, a woman follower who has been camping outside the ashram for over a week, as others nodded in approval.
He has been directed to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday at 10 a.m. Police have to execute the warrants latest by Sunday.
Sect spokesman Purshottam Dass denied that Rampal was avoiding the judicial process.
"He (Rampal) is not medically fit. He will appear before the court when he is fit. He has been attending court hearings earlier also. He is not trying to avoid it," Dass said.
"The hearing can also take place through video conferencing. The administration has cut all our supplies, including water, power and milk. We are ready to die here," he said.
The high court had severely criticised police and the Haryana government last week for failing to arrest Rampal. Non-bailable warrants were issued against him Nov 5.
"Rampal is under the wrong impression that he cannot be reached even by the long arms of law. When the majesty of law is browbeaten by a contemnor, this court has the authority to direct the state machinery to employ its mighty force to reach the contemnor to smoke him out even if he holes up in a bunker," a division bench of Justices M. Jeyapaul and Lisa Gill observed last week.
Police have cordoned off all areas around 500 metres from the complex. Fire brigade and riot control vehicles, water cannons, and bullet-proof vans as well as ambulances have been stationed.
Though last ditch efforts were being made to persuade Rampal to surrender, the administration has snapped power and water supply to the complex.
Authorities in the area Saturday urged the thousands of his followers gathered at the ashram to disperse.
Rampal, through his counsel, had earlier claimed that he was medically unfit to appear in the court in person.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Saturday appealed to him "to present himself in court in a peaceful manner".
