HC Directs Police to Register Complaints Against Sadhaks of Ashar
After preliminary hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Jan Sangharsh Manch praying for investigation into the incidents of violent attacks on the residents of Motera village by the disciples (Sadhaks) of Asharam Bapu’s Ashram, the division bench of the Gujarat High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Shri M.S. Shah and Mr.Justice D.H. Waghela directed Shri J.T. Chudasama, Police Inspector of Local Crime Branch (LCB) to register FIRs on the complaints made by the media persons as well as the residents of all the victims of violent attacks made by the Sadhaks of Asharam Bapu’s Ashram at Motera on 18th July 2008 and take immediate action against all the offenders. The Court has posted the matter for further hearing on 8th September.
The petitioner Jan Sangharsh Manch has alleged (i) complete inaction on the part of police to prevent and control violent attacks by the inmates of the Aasharam Bapu Ashram at Motera on the residents of the locality known as Veljibhaino Kuvo and more particularly the residents of Ramakakani Chali, Jogmaya Nagar, Rabarivas of Village Motera.(ii) Refusal by the police to register any offence against the attackers and refusal to record any complaint of the victims of the attack of the aforesaid area and consequently, refusal to investigate grave offence committed by the attackers who are disciples of Aasharam Bapu. And (iii) Refusal by the authority to take any preventive action against the inmates of Aasharam Bapu’s Ashram at Motera to prevent recurrence of violent attacks by the inmates of Aasharam Bapu’s Ashram.
Commenting on the submission made by learned AGP for the State of Gujarat that none of the victims have approached the police for lodging complaint, Justice M.S. Shah remarked – “the government and police must change their attitude, they should not expect the victims to come to the police stations. The police must go to the victims and hear their grievances. Then only justice can be said to have been done..”
Appearing for the petitioner, advocates Dr.Mukul Sinha and Shri S.H. Iyer contended that the mysterious death of two children at Ashram Bapu’s Ashram at Motera on 5-7-2008 snowballed in large scale protest and ultimately gave rise to “Gujarat Bandh” call on 18-7-2008. An extravagant celebration was held at the Ashram of Aasharam Bapu where thousands of disciples and followers of Aasharam Bapu had assembled on the occasion of Gurupurnima. Shri Aasharam Bapu was himself present in the celebration and had addressed the gathering. A very large contingent of the media reporters from different T.V. channels and news- papers were present with video cameras to cover the event of Gurupurnima. Around 11.00 a.m. several trucks had come out from the Ashram carrying over one thousand disciples armed with huge lathis, pipes, sticks and such other weapons and had entered into the nearby localities and had beaten up the residents and had ransacked their houses.
Ahmedabad
Dr.Mukul Sinha
Advocate
Date : 26-8-2008
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