Five men in police net in Sachidanand ashram attack case

Anand, July 28 (UNI) Police today arrested three people in Swami Sachidanand ashram attack case of July 17.

The three people arrested have been identified as Ramesh Damor, Rajesh Sanghara and Vinu Laxman Two others arrested-- Shanker Marhi and Dhiru Vaghel-- are already in police custody in Vadodra in connection with a loot case, Inspector General of Police, Ahmedabad Range, A K Sharma said at a press conference here.

One of the accomplices, Babu Mohan who was Ramesh's brother-in-law, died as he had incurred a bullet injury when the Swami had opened fire from his licenced revolver that night, Mr Sharma added.

They were all part of an eight-member gang involved in the attack, he said.

The police is on the lookout for other two members of the gang, who are still absconding, Mr Sharma added.

Earlier, four people affiliated to the Swadhyay Parivar, three from Anand and one from Vadodara, had been detained and let off after interrogation and lie-detector tests. However, the IGP refused to divulge any details about the results of the tests.

When asked whether the Swadhyay Parivar was in any way linked to the attack, Mr Sharma said, ''No direct links of the accused with the Parivar have been established, but it is a matter of investigation whether the gang was hired for the purpose.'' Meanwhile, Swami Sachidanand said he has not been yet asked to identify the arrested men. He said it was clear that they had entered the ashram with a motive to attack and not just indulge in petty theft or loot.

He also said he was waiting for the police to come up with definite proof about any Parivar links and would not speculate till then.

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