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	21-Yr-Old Temple Staffer Alleges Rape by Priest Times of India March 16, 2009 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/21-yr-old-temple-staffer-alleges-rape-by-priest/articleshow/4273355.cms NEW DELHI: A 21-year-old woman who worked as a "sevika" at a temple in Kanti Nagar has alleged that the 65-year-old head priest raped her on Sunday after convincing her to stay back at the temple for the night. According to the victim's husband, the woman had joined the temple as a sevak during Diwali last year. But she left the job in February after the temple authorities failed to pay her salary. "My wife went to the temple earlier demanding they repay the arrears, but the accused priest Laxman Das Yeti alias Laxman Guruji asked her to come after Holi. So she went to the temple around 6.30pm on Sunday. Laxman asked her to stay back the night with his daughter. He told my wife that his daughter would open the door at night when she returns from her tuitions," said the victim's husband, who was on duty as a security officer on Sunday night. The priest allegedly locked the main temple gate from outside. "My wife went off to sleep and was not alarmed when she heard the door open. The priest then raped her in the room," said the husband. The next morning the victim informed her husband about the incident and a complaint was lodged at the Krishna Nagar police station. She was sent to Swami Dayanand Hospital for medical examination. The police said a case of rape was registered after the medical report confirmed rape. "We have detained the accused and are questioning him," said a senior officer. Meanwhile, sources at the temple claimed the priest was "innocent" and was being "framed".
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