Police discovered five bodies earlier today after storming the ashram of a wanted guru in northern India and another of the man´s followers died in hospital, an officer said.
Director general of police SN Vashisht said the bodies of four women were found at the sprawling compound but it was unclear how they died, while an 18-month-old child appeared to have died of natural causes.
Another woman apparently suffering from a heart condition also died after being taken to hospital, Vashisht told reporters.
“All dead bodies have been sent to the hospital where they will undergo a postmortem to ascertain the exact cause of their deaths,” he said.
Police stepped up their search Wednesday for the 63-year-old guru, Rampal Maharaj, whom they believe is still holed up inside the compound spread over 4.8 hectares (12 acres).
Police on Tuesday stormed the ashram, which has been guarded by hundreds of followers for days after a court ordered their leader arrested on murder and other charges.
Police fired water canon and tear gas and baton-charged the supporters who were armed with stones, petrol bombs and other weapons, television footage showed.
