Attacked for speaking up against Asaram: The list just keeps growing

The ongoing rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu seems to have assumed a character similar to the Vyapam case, with several mysterious killings and assaults linked to the case. The most recent death was of Kirpal Singh, who had testified in a court against Asaram. On late Friday night, Singh was shot by unidentified assailants in Bareilly. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital a day later.

Even as Singh had testified in court, he appeared to have been aware of the threat to his life . The Hindustan Times  quotes sources saying that he had expressed fears of being attacked after he recorded his statement. Singh had good reason to be worried.

When another witness, Akhil Gupta, was killed in January this year, The Indian Express  had reported that he had been living at a different location as he feared for his life on account of having testified in the case. Unfortunately, however, his efforts to ensure his own security failed.

These are the persons who have earlier been killed or injured after speaking up against Asaram-

Raju Chandhok- He was attacked in December 2009 in Sabarmati. The Hindu  had then mentioned his statement to the police, in which he had said that there had been several attempts on his life ever since he left Asaram Bapu’s ashram after “realizing the true nature of the saint.”

Dinesh Bhagchandani - In March last year, two persons attacked Bhagchandani by throwing acid on his face. Bhagchandani was said to have parted ways with Asaram in 2007 and had been assisting witnesses against him.

Amrut Prajapati - Prajapati, too, had parted ways with Asaram after having worked with him for 15 years. Prajapati, who used to practice Ayurveda, was shot in his clinic in Rajkot in June 2014.

Rahul Patel - Barely two weeks later after Prajapati was attacked, Patel, who used to work as a videographer with Asaram, was attacked.

Vimlesh Thakkar- In February last year, Thakkar was assaulted with knives. His wife has accused Asaram’s son Narayan Sai of sexually assaulting her.

Rahul Sachan- He was former “sevadar” of Asaram and was a witness in a rape case against him. Sachan was stabbed outside a Jodhpur court in February this year.

Akhil Gupta- He was the second person to be killed in connection with charges against Asaram, Gupta was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar in January this year. Gupta was a cook working with Asaram and was a witness in the rape case filed against him.

Mahendra Chawla- He was witness in a rape case against Narayan Sai. He was shot by unidentified assailants in Panipat in May this year.