Haryana Government is committed to upholding law and order and is treading "carefully and cautiously" to arrest Sant Rampal as per court order, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said this evening after meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the issue here.
All are equal before the law and the "government is working dispassionately without any pressure or favouritism", Khattar said after meeting Singh over the situation near Rampal's ashram near Hisar where four women died mysteriously and two others in hospital in the midst of a showdown.
"The state government is proceeding carefully and cautiously to arrest Sant Rampal, chief of the Satlok Ashram. Our first priority is to safely take out innocent children, women and aged persons who are stranded in the ashram, and also make arrangements for their safe passage to their homes. The police are working with great wisdom, restraint and in a planned manner," he said in a statement.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the operation would be completed soon and the police would produce Rampal before the court after arresting him. He also expressed concern over the incident of misbehaviour with mediapersons during the police operation and gave the assurance that the whole incident would be investigated.
Arrangements for the treatment of those injured have been made by the administration, he said. Over 200 persons were reported to be injured in yesterday's violence at Barwala near Hisar where violent clashed took place between the self-styled godman's supporters and the police after the latter tried to enter his ashram and arrest him.
Khattar said despite incidents of firing, stone-pelting and throwing of acid and petrol bombs from inside the ashram, the police exercised extreme restraint as its main aim was to ensure safety and security of the thousands of innocent people held as shield.
More than 10,000 people have so far been taken out of the ashram and arrangements have been made for their safe passage to their respective destinations, he said.
