BHAGALPUR (INDIA)
The Times of India [Mumbai, India]
May 26, 2024
The priest of an ashram was arrested Saturday for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl in Bhagalpur district. The accused Dharmanand Baba — in his forties — had fled after the crime and was caught in Asarganj area in Munger district. He was produced before a Pocso court and sent to Bhagalpur jail, police said.
Police said the crime took place Friday night when the child had gone to the ashram while searching for her father. “The girl was alone at home while her father was out at work. Her mother was in the neighbourhood. Her father frequently visited the ashram so the child went there looking for him,” local police station in-charge Safdar Ali said.
“When her mother returned home, she could not find her daughter and reached the ashram while looking for the child. On seeing her daughter partially naked, she started to call out for the locals, many of whom rushed to the place,” Ali said, adding: “On spotting the crowd, the accused said, ‘I made a mistake, please forgive me’.”
Soon after, a case was registered at the women’s police station. SHO Kiran Soni said, “A special investigation team, including officials from two police stations and the district intelligence unit, was formed to hunt down the accused. The girl was admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, Bhagalpur, for treatment and medical examination.”
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)