JOIN USDevotees desert Dera's Bengaluru ashram
The Dera Sacha Sauda's Bengaluru ashram has been locked up since Friday, soon after the controversial godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was convicted of rape in Haryana.
Not a single devotee turned up at the ashram, at Vinayak Nagar 2nd Main near Nagasandra on Tumakuru Road, North Bengaluru, on Saturday. Just two constables attached to the Peenya police station have been guarding the ashram. They were deployed on Friday morning to avert any untoward incident.
Local residents told DH that around 15 devotees had gathered at the ashram on Friday evening. "They looked crestfallen and were consoling each other," a resident said.
The ashram is housed in a three-storey building on a 1,200-square foot site. It was constructed by Singh's devotees. The self-styled godman visited the place three times and once arrived with a large posse of security guards, according to residents. The ashram has a prayer hall on the third floor.
Annegowda, a retired regional fire officer who lives in the locality, said: “Every Sunday, 15-20 devotees would come here, sing Bhajans and prayer to Ram Rahim Singh. Five years ago, the ashram organised a blood donation camp but there were no social activities thereafter." He added that the devotees were peaceful and created no disturbance.
Another resident said the ashram was guarded by two men every day who also stayed there. But since Friday, they are not to be seen and the main door is also locked, the resident added.
A police constable posted at the ashram said: “We came here on the instructions of our superiors. But locating the ashram was not easy. When we finally arrived here, only a few devotees were present and everyone was quiet."