A day after the management of the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune allowed entry to ‘rebel’ disciples on the occasion of Osho’s ‘Enlightenment Day’, over 150 members of the rebel group forcibly entered the resort on Wednesday, said the Pune police.
The police resorted to the use of force to control one person who apparently did not belong to either faction, created a ruckus, and attacked the personnel before being overpowered and detained, an officer said.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Smartana Patil, a group of disciples from other factions forcibly entered the campus wearing ‘malas’ despite being allowed on Tuesday. “Over 100 to 150 of them barged into the resort and chanted slogans. However, there was one person, according to the primary probe, who did not belong to any group. He created a ruckus and attacked the police personnel when they tried to stop him. This person has been detained and is being questioned. We have made adequate force deployment in the area and the campus as a precautionary measure and are closely monitoring the situation,” Patil said.
A police officer said that they had to use force to control the man, who is a foreign national.
Policemen carry a ‘rebel’ Osho disciple inside a police truck in Pune on Wednesday. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)
Following intervention by the Pune City police and considering the possible law and order situation, the management of the Osho International Meditation Resort had allowed the ‘rebel’ disciples to enter the campus wearing ‘malas’ (rosaries) for one day to mark the guru’s ‘Enlightenment Day.’ The ‘rebel’ disciples celebrated the occasion and held meditation sessions at Osho’s resting place. Many of them were banned years ago for alleged “anti-resort” activities.
Policemen drag a ‘rebel’ Osho disciple after some followers barged into the Osho resort in Pune, (Express photo by Arul Horizon)
The bearing of a rosary was banned in the ashram in 1987. The Pune police had deployed personnel in the area to avert any law and order situation. All of them were also told to pay a mandatory entry fee on Tuesday. While they have protested the fee in the past, this time they did not resist, officials said.
