Satlok Ashram

Satlok Ashram is an organisation founded by Bandi Chhod Bhakti Mukti Trust in 1999 in Karontha village of Rohtak, Haryana.[1] It now has approximately six Ashrams throughout India, including in Barwala and Betul, Madhya Pradesh.

History

In 1994, Ramdevanand Maharaj (a Hindu saint from Garib Das Panth) selected Rampal as his successor.[2][1]Rampal started delivering discourses and giving initiation to the devotees.[3]

Earlier Rampal used to impart Satsang by going to the house of the devotees.[2] As the number of devotees increased there arose a need to establish an Ashram. Satlok Ashram Karontha was, hence, established by Bandi Chhod Bhakti Mukti Trust in 1999.[1]

Karontha incident 2006

In 2006 Rampal publicly objected to certain parts of Satyarth Prakash which he saw as illogical and impractical.[1]

Angered by this Arya Samaj followers encircled[4] and attempted to attack Satlok Ashram Karontha. Police were also present there, however, they were just mute spectators.[5] There were about 10 thousand devotees present in the ashram including women, children, and senior citizens.[5] Water and power supply were disconnected[6]. On 12 July 2006, Arya Samajis attacked the ashram with stones, petrol bombs and fired on it. The followers of Saint Rampal Ji responded with aerial firing.[5]

In this violent cl,ash an Arya Samaj follower was killed. Rampal was charged with murder and arrested. After spending several months in jail, he was released on bail in 2008.[7] Rampal and his followers demanded CBI Investigation of the whole Karontha incident, but their demand was not accepted.[8][9]

Barwala incident 2014

In 2014, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him after his followers were alleged of disrupting court's proceedings.[10] Police went to detain him on 12 November 2014.[11]

By 18 November, his Satlok ashram in Hisar was protected by thousands of his followers who were holding flags reading 'Satsaheb'. More than 20,000 security personnel and police forced their way into the ashram, but they could not find Rampal for arrest.[12] The police used earth movers to break wall on the rear side of ashram to find him but were opposed by a large number of followers who allegedly injured some police personnel in an effort to halt their entry.[13] The bodies of five women and 18-month-old child were found in his ashram.[14]

Rampal was arrested on the night of 19 November 2014, along with more than 900 of his followers, on charges including sedition, murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy, hoarding illegal weapons and aiding and abetting suicide-mongers.[15] Rampal was acquitted of the charges of wrongful confinement in court on 29 August.[16] He remains in prison on other charges including murder and sedition.[16]

References
  1. "सतलोक आश्रम के प्रमुख संत रामपाल बरी, लोगों को बंधक बनाने का था आरोप". aajtak.intoday.in (in Hindi). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  2. (AFP). "Indian police arrest 'godman' after violent stand-off". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  3. "Saint Rampal Ji - Biography: | Jagat Guru Rampal Ji". www.jagatgururampalji.org. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  4. "रामपाल व समर्थकों की बंदूकें कोर्ट लेकर पहुंची पुलिस, वकील बोले-सभी खाली थीं". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 31 March 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  5. "2006 Karontha Ashram Case (Full Details) – Sant Rampal Ji accused of murder – Satlok Ashram". Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. "2006 Karontha Ashram Case (Full Details) – Sant Rampal Ji accused of murder – Satlok Ashram". Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. "India guru arrested after clashes". 19 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  8. "Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj – Satlok Ashram". Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  9. "रामपाल पहुंचे हाईकोर्ट, दर्ज मामलों की जांच सीबीआई से करवाने की अपील". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  10. "Court issues fresh warrants against sect leader Rampal". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  11. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  12. "Deadline over, crackdown begins at Rampal's Hisar ashram". India Today. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  13. Bhatnagar, Gaurav Vivek (18 November 2014). "Rampal followers, police clash". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  14. "News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates". News18. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  15. "Rampal arrested by Haryana police from his ashram in Hisar". The Times of India. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  16. Vasudeva, Vikas (29 August 2017). "Sant Rampal acquitted in two criminal cases". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
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