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Asaram arrested from Indore ashram

Policemen guard Asaram's ashram in Indore on Saturday. — PTI

Indore, August 31
Controversial godman Asaram Bapu, accused of sexually assaulting a minor, was arrested by the Jodhpur police from his ashram here late tonight. Armed with a medical report that the godman was fit to be interrogated, a team of the Jodhpur police arrested 72-year-old Asaram and whisked him in a white jeep about half an hour after the stroke of midnight, after waiting for nearly eight hours at the ashram.

"Asaram Bapu has been arrested and taken away by the Jodhpur police", Superintendent of Police (Indore West) Anil Singh Kushwah told reporters here.

Asked where Asaram was taken to, Kushwah said: "I have no information on that", amidst reports that he was headed to Indore Airport to be flown to Jodhpur where an FIR was filed by a 16-year-old girl alleging she was sexually assaulted by the godman at his ashram.

As the vehicle carrying Asaram and the Jodhpur police made its way out of the ashram in Indore, hundreds of his supporters, watched by posse of policemen, shouted slogans against the police and supporting the self-styled godman.

Earlier in the day, Jodhpur DCP Ajay Lamba had said his team would arrest Asaram if it is not satisfied with his defence against the allegations of sexual assault.

Asaram Bapu, accused of sexually assaulting a minor, was arrested by the Jodhpur police from his ashram in Indore on Saturday night.

Strong contingents of police personnel were deployed at the ashram even as Asaram's supporters protested the arrival of the Jodhpur police team, after which the religious preacher to ask them to stay calm.

As soon as the Jodhpur police team reached Asaram's ashram in Indore and met its personnel, it was told that he was presiding over a congregation and that it will have to wait for some time.

TV footage showed an ambulance entering the ashram premises earlier in the evening with a report from doctors of Indore Medical College that Asaram was medically fit to be questioned.

The police move for arresting and questioning came even as supporters of Asaram attacked a TV reporter and a cameraman at his Jodhpur ashram leaving them injured.

The police said 13 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Lamba said the Jodhpur police got a fax from Indore ashram of Asaram yesterday in which it was stated that Asaram had a "neurological problem" after he underwent a medical examination by doctors of Bhopal Medical Colege. — PTI

Victim’s father begins indefinite hunger strike
Tribune News Service

Shahjahanpur, August 31
The father of the 16-year-old girl who has accused self-styled godman Asaram of sexual assault has gone on an indefinite hunger strike from today demanding his immediate arrest.

Talking to the TNS, class XII student’s father Karamveer Singh said he was expecting the culprit to surrender by August 30.

“Since he has not been arrested, I cannot keep quiet any longer. I will sit on an indefinite hunger strike outside the Shahjahanpur ashram, 40 km from the town, to ensure he is arrested.”

Singh said he along with two dozen supporters had decided to sit in front of the ashram as his grievance was against the self-styled godman and his associates, and not against the district administration or the state government. Singh had been instrumental in acquiring the land and construction of the ashram. The family returned to their native place in Azizganj locality of Shahjahanpur after the incident. They are under police cover.