Asaram Bapu supporters attack mediapersons

Asaram39s supporters attacked the two mediapersons leaving them injured quotWe came here for coverage on information that Asaram39s supporter were arriving from different places As we reached some of his followers targeted us and snatched our camera and locals came to our rescuequot the TV journalist alleged Supporters of controversial selfstyled Indian 39godman39 Asaram Bapu who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl shout slogans against government during a protest in New Delhi on August 29 2013 PicAFPu00a0 He alleged that police officers did not respond to their phone calls Police said medical examination of both the mediapersons will be conducted and action will be taken against those involved in the attack As the chorus for action against 72yearold Asaram grew loud the Jodhpur Police yesterday rejected his plea for extending the deadline for his appearance and headed towards Bhopal to interrogate him quotWe had received a fax from bapu yesterday stating that on account of his illhealth and death of his relative he was not able to come in stipulated time and sought more time for appearance before the police for investigationBut we have decided not to give him any relief as we have no strong ground to believe what he said in the faxquot Jodhpur DCP Ajay Pal Lamba had said Regarding the possibility of Asaram39s arrest Lamba had said that as of now the police had adequate and strong evidence against him enabling it to make an arrest but it will give him a chance to prove him innocent during his interrogation quotIf he does not have concrete defence he will be arrestedquot he had said Asaram is accused of sexually assaulting a 16yearold schoolgirl and inmate of his Jodhpur ashram Referring to the grounds for his plea for extending the deadline especially illhealth Lamba had said the investigating team will examine the veracity of his plea and then only it will be decided whether he needs time or not quotIf there is strong ground justifying his plea we may consider relaxation on humanitarian groundquot Lamba said In his fax Asaram had has also stated that quotNot only me but my followers are also in deep trauma following allegations of sexual exploitation on me and this trauma took the life of one of my relative So every move of police should be driven by humanitarian anglequot The fax said that police should take care that his followers are not traumatised quotAt least in case of a saint police must keep this in mindquot the fax said In the fax Asaram stated that he will himself appear before police once he was fine Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said quotWe would consider any relaxation only on the basis of a strong groundquot Meanwhile a large number of Asaram39s followers from all across the state have started assembling at his Jodhpur ashram at Pal Road About a dozen buses carrying his followers have arrived here and all arrangements to accommodate them are being put up in ashram by the Yog Vedant Seva Samiti A member of the Samiti said all followers of Asaram are coming to express their devotion and trust in him quotWe are making all arrangements for them and are of the strong view that he is innocentquot Police have detained six persons in connection with the attack quotWe have identified and detained six persons from the Ashram Other involved in the attack are also being rounded upquot the police saidu00a0