GUWAHATI: In a recent incident, a 16-year-old girl was raped and impregnated by Ghanshyam Das, a phony self-styled godman or ‘Baba’.
According to reports, the accused Ghanshyam Das was called upon by a family from Uzan Bazar last year to perform some ritual at their house. The ‘godman’ after reading palms of the family members claimed that their 16-year-old maid was ‘possessed by spirits’ and advised that she needs to attend a ‘hawan’ to ‘get her body free from evil presence.’
As the family made the arrangements in a different room, Das under pretext of performing the ritual committed the crime and left.
The incident took place at Patharkuwari, Bishnu Nagar area in the city.
The incident was exposed after the victim fell sick and was shifted to Apollo hospital for treatment, where the hospital authorities intimated that she was pregnant. The victim also gave birth to a baby boy recently where she divulged in front of the family that she was raped by Ghanshyam Das.
{{PY1zPtpmQWsDNr3Mi8jM}}
Following the incident, the family lodged a complaint with the Satgaon police.
Based on the complaint, the police arrested the accused on April 25. Das is currently under interrogation. The police will opt for DNA profiling of Ghanshyam Das. According to information, the accused is a member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The crime was first reported by 181 Women's Helpline to Miguel Queah, Support Person (POCSO), Child Welfare Committee, Kamrup (M) and executive director of UTSAH, an NGO working for child rights.
“After the Child Welfare Committee referred the case to us, we lodged an FIR with Satgaon police under Section 6 of the POCSO Act,” said Miguel Das Queah. Police said it is investigating the matter further and a number of witnesses will be examined.
The self-styled healer, according to police, comes to Guwahati every Thursday and is a permanent resident of Baksa. ACP (Noonmati) Pallav Tamuli said police will go for DNA profiling to ascertain the truth. The accused will be produced before the court for further judgement.
{{sbSNJC3sxxiPgyG_7Hig}}
