Godman's disciples vow to resist his arrest

A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued fresh non-bailable arrest warrants against a self-styled godman in a contempt of court case, his disciples today reaffirmed to resist attempt by police to appehend him.
"If Sant Rampal does not recover, medical certificate will be furnished again in the court on November 17," Barwala-based Satlok Ashram's spokesman Raj Kapoor said.
"We will resist his arrest even at the cost of our lives. More than one lakh followers are ready to sacrifice their lives for Sant ji," he claimed as the Ashram remained fortified by his followers, including women and children.

Senior volunteers of Rashtriya Samaj Sewa Samiti, an organization of followers of Sant Rampal, met inside the Ashram to chalk out next course of action in the wake of High Court orders to arrest him and produce on or before November 17.
After the meeting, Kapoor told reporters, "We have repeatedly said that Sant ji would appear in the court as soon as he recovers. A doctors' panel has already declared that he is not fit to travel. He is under observation and on oxygen cyclinder."
Meanwhile, devotees, wearing helmets, stood guard at the main gate of the ashram.
"The High Court order is unlawful and it has hurt the followers badly. We are passing through mental agony, firstly because the health of Sant ji is going down and secondly the High Court has made it a prestige point to arrest him. Let the police try to arrest him, we shall lay our lives for Sant ji," Kapoor said.

"Life of a person is more important than his appearance in the court. Sant ji has respect for the law and the court, but he should be first able to travel to Chandigarh," he said.