Haryana seeks UAVs to monitor Rampal's movement

NEW DELHI: Haryana government has sought sought from Union Home Ministry a few Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to monitor the activities of controversial self-styled 'godman' Rampal in his Hisar campus after he failed to appear in court in a contempt case.

The state government is planning to deploy the UAVs to monitor Rampal's movement, activities within his campus, the number of people gathered there and whether they are carrying arms and explosives, a Home Ministry official said.

The request by Haryana came weeks after Delhi Police had deployed UAVs in the national capital's Trilokpuri locality to monitor situation there following communal violence.

The gadgets are being held by National Security Guard and Central Reserve Police Force and one of them may be asked to send the UAVs to Haryana, the official said.

Rampal today failed to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and sought more time. His supporters claimed that he has been taken from his ashram in Barwala in Hisar district to an undisclosed destination for "treatment".

The Centre has already sent about 1,400 CRPF personnel to Haryana for upkeep of law and order in view of prevailing tension around the Hisar ashram of Rampal, against whom the arrest warrant is pending.