Janata Dal-United (JD-U) President Sharad Yadav on Saturday criticized the attack on journalists by supporters of self proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu in Jodhpur, and demanded the latter's immediate arrest.in connection with a sexual assault case on a minor.
"Today his (Asaram Bapu) supporters attacked IBN-7 journalists, and even in Bhopal, we saw how his supporters were manhandling media. Wherever he is going, he is getting aggressive at the media, because he knows that the media will reveal all the facts about him. That man is only involved in money and land. And, there is no much superstition in this country and people say he has lakhs of followers. Why was he allowed to escape from Jodhpur? He should be arrested immediately," he said.
Earlier, six supporters of the self styled godman Asaram Bapu were detained for attacking media personnel outside his ashram in Jodhpur.
"We have taken six people into custody. Interrogation is on in the case," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ajay Pal Lamba had said.
According to reports, Asaram's supporters allegedly attacked IBN-7's reporter Bhawani Deora. Another IBN-7 video journalist was also injured in the attack.
On Friday, Jodhpur Police refused to give Asaram Bapu more time to present himself in connection with a case of sexually assaulting a minor at his Jodhpur ashram.
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DCP Lamba said a team would be sent to Bhopal to investigate the alleged sexual assault case against Bapu.
Asaram Bapu has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.
The 16-year-old girl, who has accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.
