Rohtak, India - The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Thursday took control of the Satlok Ashram, headquarters of a religious sect, in a Haryana village after violence there left one person dead and dozens injured.
The sect's head Rampal has been arrested along with 50 disciples. They have been booked for murder, attempt to murder and keeping arms illegally inside the sect complex.
A government spokesman confirmed that the controversial sect headquarters at village Karontha in this district was taken over at 4 a.m. Thursday.
Disciples and volunteers of the sect had fired indiscriminately at people from adjoining areas Wednesday after the complex was surrounded by the people.
The firing had left a youth dead and over 50 people injured.
The CRPF was rushed to the scene even as the firing continued for over three hours.
All members of the sect had been asked to leave the premises and the whole complex had been vacated.
Residents in the neighbourhood of the ashram were opposed to activities of the sect members inside and outside the complex and tension had prevailed between the two sides for the last few weeks.
Villagers alleged that some ashram inmates were luring young girl and women from villages in the area and exploited them.
The protesting villagers set a couple of shops near the sect campus and two vehicles on fire Wednesday.
The district administration had imposed restriction orders around the sect campus and was not allowing assembly of five or more people in its vicinity.
Police officials here said that the situation was under control now.