[1]Jodhpur/Indore/Bareilly (UP): Hot on the trail of Asaram Bapu, Jodhpur Police on Saturday said the self-styled godman, who is currently at Indore ashram, is medically fit for interrogation and it is set to question him soon in connection with the sexual assault case.
Meanwhile, the father and other family members of the 16-year-old girl, who accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assasulting her, on Saturday started a fast-unto-death at the Collectorate in Shahjahanpur district, Uttar Pradesh demanding Bapu's immediate arrest.
The planned moves by the police came even as supporters of Asaram allegedly attacked a TV reporter and a cameraman at his Jodhpur ashram leaving them injured. Police said 13 people including a woman have been arrested in the attack which was condemned by the Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA).
A day after 72-year-old Asaram ignored the Friday deadline for him to appear before Jodhpur police following summons, a police team will be questioning him at his Indore ashram and make an arrest if it is not satisfied with his defence against the allegations of sexual assault levelled by a 16-year-old girl, an inmate of his Jodhpur ashram.
"We have just got information that he(Asaram) is medically fit for interrogation. A Jodhpur police team will begin his questioning in the next few hours after it goes to the Indore Ashram," Jodhpur DCP Ajay Lamba told reporters in Jodhpur Saturday evening.
"If we are not satisfied with the defence offered by Asaram we will arrest him," Lamba said after it initially appeared that the police was clueless about the whereabouts of the controversial self-styled godman.
The speculation about Asaram's whereabouts ended after Asaram's son Narayan Sai claimed he is not evading the police and that he is recuperating at his ashram in Indore from illness.
"Bapuji has a problem with blood pressure and is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Talk about his going missing and running away from police is rubbish," Sai told reporters at the self-styled godman's ashram on Khandwa Road.
There were reports about Asaram having gone missing enroute to Indore from Bhopal on Friday as he faced arrest after failing to appear before Jodhpur police for questioning.
Supporters of Congress party hold a photograph of godman Asaram Bapu and beat it with footwear during a protest in Ahmadabad - AP
Lamba said that the Jodhpur police got a fax from Indore ashram on Friday in which it was stated that Asaram had a 'neurological problem' after he underwent a medical examination by doctors of Bhopal Medical Colege.
However, the latest communication from Indore police was that doctors of Indore Medical College have stated that Asaram is medically fit for travel and interrogation, he said.
"We can given an official declaration of arrest only after communicating with Asaram Bapu," Lamba added.
Girl's family starts fast-unto-death, demands Asaram's arrest
"I will not eat anything till the time Asaram is arrested," the victim's father told reporters. He had earlier announced he would stage a fast-unto-death if the godman was not arrested by August 30.
On the occasion, the protesters handed over a memorandum addressed to the President of India and Governor of Uttar Pradesh to the district magistrate, containing the demand for arrest and strong punishment for Asaram, who has been evading police.
The district authorities have made elaborate security arrangements at the Collectorate and are not allowing the entry of people inside the premises, an official said.
Meanwhile, security around the Chandapur ashram of Asaram has also been stepped up with heavy deployment of police force, the official added.
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