Prohibitory orders will be imposed in Jodhpur from Saturday to prevent followers of self-styled 'godman' Asaram Bapu from gathering in the city for a trial court verdict in a rape case against him on April 25, police said.
Section 144 of the CrPC would be in force from Saturday morning till the evening of April 30, police said.
The Rajasthan High Court had allowed a plea by the state police for pronouncement of the verdict on the premises of Jodhpur Central Jail, where he is lodged.
The court had also directed the authorities to deploy adequate security personnel to ensure that his followers do no create any law and order problem in the city.
DCP (East) Aman Deep Singh said the efforts of the police would be directed at keeping Asaram's followers out of the city.
“We are apprehensive about the convergence of the followers in large numbers as they can be a threat to law and order," said Aman Deep.
Besides this, the police was also keeping a watch on his ashrams in Palgaon and Manai village where the alleged crime had taken place.
“We have warned the managers not to allow a gathering of his followers during this period,” he said.
The police have also been keeping a sharp eye on hotels and guest houses of the city as well as bus and railway stations.
“We have set up control rooms at both the bus and railway stations and have urged the officers to constantly share information," DCP (West) Sameer Singh said.
There would be check posts at all entry gates of the city where the police would ensure that his followers do not enter. Identity cards would be checked and in case of any suspicion, the holder would be made to return, the police said.
The BJP government of Vasundhara Raje appears to be proceeding with caution as any untoward incidents could backfire with Assembly elections due later this year. The BJP government in Haryana under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was severely criticised for not acting proactively to stop rioting by followers of another godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, when he was convicted in a rape case in August 2017.
Nearly 40 people were killed and 200 injured when Gurmeet's followers went on a rampage in many parts of Haryana, causing damage of over Rs 126 core.