Asaram 'Godman' Close Behind Vyapam: Nine Witnesses Attacked, Three Killed

NEW DELHI: Targeted assassinations of witnesses in court cases is becoming part of organised crime in India, with the state and its law and order agencies unable to find and book the culprits. The Vyapam case has made the headlines, and close on its heels is now the Asaram Bapu case in which nine persons have been killed or seriously wounded. In both high drama cases the authorities have not been able to find the killers leading to the question: have they even tried to.

Asaram born Asumal Thaumal Harpalani, one of the many ‘godmen’ who scatter the landscape of India was jailed in 2013 following sexual assault charges by a 16 year old. Just a day ago the case claimed its ninth victim, 35 year old Kripal Singh who was shot at and seriously wounded in Shahjahanpur district by two persons on a motorcycle. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after, leaving behind a young son and wife.

Singh had told the police that he had been receiving threats from persons speaking for Asaram, and the assailants on the bike too had warned him against appearing as a witness in the case.

Singh is reported to be working for the company whose owner’s daughter had filed the case against Asaram. Later both he and his son Narayan Sai had been booked for the alleged rape of two sisters at their ashram in Gujarat.

Since he was jailed, at least nine persons have been attacked. Akhil Gupta, a key witness who had worked as a cook in Asaram’s ashram, was shot dead. Acid was thrown on another key witness Dinesh Bhagchandani.

Asaram built his first ashram in Gujarat when he was just under 30 years old. And from then on went on to allegedly acquire land illegally, and as the 16 year old’s case suggest use his godmen duties for ungodly pursuits. He came into the eye of the storm when he said that the young girl who was raped in a moving bus in Delhi---in a crime that shocked the world---was as responsible for her rape as the rapists.

Poor policing, political patronage and protection, are taking crime to new levels where witnesses are being killed in large numbers with impunity. Attacks on witnesses, particularly in session courts, have not been uncommon but a systematic, almost serialised wiping out and intimidation of witnesses in this manner is certainly a new addition to organised crime.

The police, despite admitting in the Asaram case as well, that witnesses are being targeted have done little to trace the assailants in the nine cases. This despite the fact that Asaram and his son are both available for questioning, as they are in jail. The intention is clearly to weaken the case, by ensuring that either witnesses are eliminated or turn hostile out of fear. More so, as the assailants seem to be stronger and more in control than the police that has been unable to make one arrest so far.

Asaram, 74, has been surrounded by stink for a while now. In 2008 he hit the headlines a two boys--10 year old Dipesh and Abhishek---disappeared from his ashram and their mutilated bodies were discovered later at the banks of the Sabarmati river. Dipesh’s father had said at the time that the boys organs had been taken out and used for black magic, but again the law and order enforcing agencies looked the other way. And no action was taken. A probe that led nowhere was ordered after a public hue and cry,

And justice remained elusive. As it continues to.