Asaram Bapu's ashram in UP found ransacked

BAREILLY: Jailed self-styled godman Asaram Babu's ashram in Shahjahanpur district was found ransacked, police said today.

According to DIG Bareilly RKS Rathore, the incident took place last night when the accused persons entered Asaram's ashram in Rudrapur village of Shahjahanpur district and ransacked his property, besides burning several books.

A case has been registered in this connection and three persons have been detained, Rathore said.

The incident took place a day after Narayan Pandey, a follower of the self-styled godman, was arrested in connection with the murder of main witness Kripal Singh in Asaram rape case in Shahjahanpur earlier this month.

Pandey also allegedly admitted to his role in the murder and was produced in the court and sent to jail.

On October 7, 2013, angry locals had ransacked the controversial self-styled godman's ashram in Rajasthan after a fresh sexual assault case was registered against him in Gujarat by two sisters.

The main witness Kripal Singh was on July 10 shot by motorcycle-borne assailants in Cant police station area. He had been Asaram's disciple in his Jodhpur ashram and was called here with the help of Jodhpur Police.

It came to light during interrogation that Singh was shot by professional shooters while Pandey and three others had hatched the conspiracy, police said.

They had earlier tried to buy over Singh by offering Rs 10 to 20 lakhs but he did not relent and as the last resort he was eliminated, police said.