Chandigarh, Nov 20- Haryana Director General of Police Mr S. N. Vashisht today said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Superintendent of Police, Hisar has already entered into the Satlok Ashram after obtaining search warrant from the court.
Mr Vashisht, who was addressing a press conference here today, said that the team is expected to submit its report within a day or two. He said that the SIT consists of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four inspectors, one SSO of forensic science, supporting staff and cyber unit.
He said that accused Rampal has been arrested from the Barwala Satlok Ashram last night and was taken to the general hospital in sector 6, Panchkula as he complained of ill health. After the doctors declared him medically fit, he was taken to police station, sector 5, Panchkula where he was kept in police custody.
The Director General of Police said that accused Rampal has been produced in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in contempt of court case. He would again be produced on November 28, 2014 with full details of expenditure incurred during his arrest operation. Till then he will remain in judicial custody. He said that now Rampal has been taken back to Hisar for conducting investigations in the case.
He said that at present the Satlok Ashram has been fully evacuated as the remaining 4000 people including 1500 women have been safely taken out of the ashram today and facilitated to go back to their homes. He said that the police have so far arrested 459 people in this case. They included 118 of Rajasthan, 116 of Haryana, 72 of Madhya Pradesh, ten of Bihar, 83 of Uttar Pradesh and three of Nepal. He said that more people could be rounded up on the basis of evidences and added that they would be thoroughly investigated.
Mr Vashisht said that the police has arrested Baljit, a close associate of Rampal and his daughter Babita. The police has recovered one laptop with charger, six mobile phones, ten hard disks, 17 CDs, three telephone diaries, one ring timer, five files regarding trust etc. from her possession. The hard disk and CDs would be scanned by a special team of police, he added. Apart from this, the police has also arrested other accused in the case namely Ram Kanwar Dhaka, Ravinder Dhaka, Purshotam and Ramavtar.
He said that two more cases have been registered in this case for the death of six women in the ashram namely Sarita, a resident of New Delhi and Rajni, a resident of Jakhor, Uttar Pradesh, Santosh, Malkiat Kaur, Adarsh and Rajbala. He said that the post mortem of all six bodies has been conducted in medical college Agroha and no external injury has been found present on their bodies. He said that in case of Santosh and Rajbala internal injury of rib fracture has been found. He made it clear that thorough investigation would be carried out to ascertain the reasons leading to their death.
When the Director General of Police was asked to comment on the steps taken by the police regarding three minor children who got separated from their parents during the incident, he said that Inspector General Hisar Range has spoken to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. He said that appropriate action would be taken as per the provision of Children’s Act and till the information of their parents is not found, they would be kept under the state protection.
In reply to a question, Mr Vashisht said that a total of 105 police personnel have been injured in the whole operation, out of which two police personnel received gunshots whereas seven police personal have been injured due to shrapnel and 96 others suffered other injuries. He said that one SHO has been seriously injured as a bullet has pierced through his neck.
The Director General of Police also appreciated all the police officers and personnel for the success of this operation. He said that they have all discharged their duties with utmost restraint and never retaliated despite suffering injuries. He expressed satisfaction that not even a single gunshot was fired by the police.
OSD to Chief Minister Mr Jawahar Yadav said that the government is sensitive towards the interests of the media persons and said that any inappropriate incident with this fourth pillar of democracy is condemnable. He expressed concern over the incident with the media persons at Barwala Satlok Ashram and said that a committee would soon be constituted to investigate the whole matter. On this occasion, a two-minute mourn was also observed in the memory of journalist Mr. Shivam Bhatt of Zee media group who has been killed in a road mishap at Kultaran village near Kaithal today.
He said that the Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal has announced an ex gratia amount of Rs five lakh to the family of the deceased journalist. Apart from this, the Chief Minister has also announced an ex gratia amount of Rs one lakh each for those injured in the accident. Besides, the entire expenditure on their treatment would be borne by the State Government, he added.