This story is from September 9, 2020

Sadhvi gang-raped at gunpoint in Jharkhand ashram

A 36-year-old sadhvi (Hindu nun) was allegedly gang-raped by four persons at gunpoint inside an ashram situated at Pathwara village under muffasil police station area in Godda district, around 325km from Ranchi, in the early hours on Tuesday. One of the accused have been arrested and a hunt for the other three is on, police said. All the four lived in the neighbourhood, sources said.
Sadhvi gang-raped at gunpoint in Jharkhand ashram
Picture used for representational purpose only.
DUMKA: A 36-year-old sadhvi (Hindu nun) was allegedly gang-raped by four persons at gunpoint inside an ashram situated at Pathwara village under muffasil police station area in Godda district, around 325km from Ranchi, in the early hours on Tuesday. One of the accused have been arrested and a hunt for the other three is on, police said. All the four lived in the neighbourhood, sources said.
While police said they are still investigating the reason behind the crime, locals suspect a land dispute could have triggered the incident.
The arrested person has been identified as Deepak Rana, a history sheeter, and efforts are underway to arrest his accomplice Ashish Rana, police said.
Sources said the four armed men scaled the Mahila Satsang Ashram’s boundary wall around 2am and held all the residents hostage in separate rooms. They then took the woman to another room and raped her in turns. They also thrashed a sadhu identified as Pankaj Baba when he resisted them and threatened to blow up the ashram if the matter was brought to the notice.
Pankaj, the only male present at the ashram, said, “Two other nuns I were beaten up by them before we were locked in separate rooms. They took her (the survivor) to another room to commit the crime.” He added that the woman hails from Dhanbad and had come to the ashram from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) in February to attend a religious gathering. “She could not return due to the lockdown and continued to stay at the ashram," he added.
Godda SP Y S Ramesh and a police team visited the ashram on Tuesday morning and collected forensic evidence from the spot. “An FIR has been lodged at the muffasil police station and the matter is being investigated. The exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained and all aspects are being considered during the probe,” he said.
The survivor has demanded capital punishment for the accused. On Tuesday evening, chief minister Hemant Soren directed Godda DC Bhor Singh Yadav to conduct a quick investigation in the case and ensure stringent action against the culprits.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA