Security heightened at rape survivor's house after Asaram Bapu gets interim bail

After religious preacher Asaram Bapu was granted interim bail for three months the police have increased security at the home of the rape survivors familyAs per PTI the family of the rape survivor who have voiced concerns about their safety will now have to notify the police before travelling outside the districtAsaram Bapu was first arrested in 2013 after a 16yearold girl from Shahjahanpur Uttar Pradesh accused him of sexual assault at his ashram in Jodhpur In 2018 he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment under the POCSO Prevention of Child Sexual Offences Act His most recent conviction in Gujarat in 2023 led to an additional life sentenceShahjahanpur Superintendent of Police SP Rajesh Dwivedi informed PTI on Tuesday that following Asaram Bapus interim bail for three months the authorities took suo motu cognisance and strengthened the security for the rape survivors familyAt present a guard has been deployed at the survivors home and her father and brother have been provided with personal security officersAdditionally instructions have been issued to Azizganj Police outpost in Uttar Pradesh to keep a close watch on their residence he saidDwivedi further mentioned that surveillance cameras have been installed at the rape survivors home with additional longrange cameras being set up as requiredBesides police have been closely keeping a watch not only the main road but also the connecting routes near the house PTI reportedA total ban has been enforced on any unauthorised gatherings in the areaThe SP further stated that Kotwali Police have been instructed to ensure that the survivors family informs the cops in advance if they plan to leave the district allowing authorities to alert the police in the relevant regionOur officers are reviewing security arrangements at the victims residence both during the day and at night We stand with the victims family Dwivedi saidThe survivors father had told PTI on Sunday that Asaram Bapus imprisonment was a major win for them However after being granted bail on medical grounds he is now reportedly seeing everything from outside the jailHe claimed that Asarams supporters had been insisting that he would not return to prison and now their statements seem to be coming trueAsaram 86 who is serving life imprisonment in the Jodhpur Central Jail was granted relief on Friday to seek treatment for his heart ailments and other agerelated health issuesWhen Bapu was in jail it was our victory but now he is managing everyone I am surprised that the court is continuously granting interim bail to Asaram first for seven days then 12 days then twoandahalf months and now for three months the rape survivors father said while talking to PTIThe victims father stated that the individual who was released from jail on medical grounds is roaming from Jodhpur to Indore Ujjain and Surat and is continuously meeting his followersAsaram Bapu had previously been granted interim bail by the SC until March 31 also on medical grounds With this new order his temporary release has now been extended furtherWith PTI inputs