Not so enlightened: Sant Rampal says he was unaware of standoff outside ashram

Sant Rampal, the self proclaimed Godman from Haryana who was arrested in his ashram following a violent and bloody standoff between his supporters and the police, is reportedly claiming complete ignorance of the events that left many people injured and at least six dead. According to this report in the Times of India, “Jab buddhi bhrasht hoti hai to aisa hi hota hai. Meri buddhi bhi bhrasht ho gayi thi (Such things happen when you lose your mind. I had also lost my mind),” has become Rampal’s standard response  to most questions asked by investigating officers. The report adds: “In response to a question as to why did he let such a situation arise, Rampal, whose website proclaims that he is ‘jagatguru’ (world guru) and ’tatvdarshi’ (enlightened) said, “I was unaware of what was happening outside my ashram. Even Lord Krishna could not avoid the war. I am also going through bad times,’’ Rampal replied to another question.” A total of 105 policemen were injured in the violence. Two received bullet injuries, one of whom is in serious condition, having received a gun shot in the neck. Seven other policemen received splinter injuries. [caption id=“attachment_1817363” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PTI[/caption] Quite apart from the bloody events outside it, Sant Rampal’s ashram has been making headlines for what police personnel found inside it. According to another Times of India report, inside the venue, police found .32 bore revolvers, .315 bore rifles,12 bore guns, and rounds of ammunition for 7.62mm rifles which are prohibited for private individuals even if they possess a firearm license. Also found inside the ashram were water guns (pichkaris) used during Holi celebrations that were filled with petrol plus buckets of a pungent acid-like liquid filled in packets and glass bottles similar– the police claim – were thrown at them. The team also found helmets and sticks and 20 pairs of black dresses and two tanks containing 800 litres of diesel and catapult. Besides the ammunition, the 12-acre ashram could house at least 50,000 supporters at any given time and for 3 months. “Outside alone, we inventoried 58 sacks of rice, wheat and pulses. There are two storerooms we have not entered yet, and over 30 vats for food, some with fresh khichdi and kheer,” a police officer told The Indian Express. Locals had earlier told reporters that Rampal was bathed in milk daily and the milk was then used to make kheer that would be distributed to devotees at the ashram. The ashram has an air-conditioned gathering hall flanked by large LED screens where Rampal used to address thousands of his supporters, who were reportedly later used as human shields by their spiritual leader from behind his bullet-proof pulpit. There was even a library and an infirmary. Inside the godman’s lair was an X-ray room, USG machines, and even bomb-making facilities. While most of Rampal’s devotees were from the lower-middle class and poor strata of society, his five-storey residence has 24 air-conditioned rooms  with state-of-the-art elevators leading to them. His palace-like residence also has a swimming pool with a special changing area. According to Express, “In the ashram, his pravachan area has a throne that also served as a lift for Rampal, who spoke from the second floor of a white marble structure fortified by glass. " The Haryana High Court has cancelled his bail in a murder case he was asked to appear in court for, as police slapped charges of murder and violence over the death of six people in his ashram during the standoff that ended last night. He has also been charged with sedition.