Monks in Bodh Gaya charged with sexual abuse: Police
Gaya: Three monks associated with the Indo-Thai Buddhist Society (ITBS) in Bodh Gaya have been charged with sexually exploiting a 10-year-old Dalit girl after a petition was filed by a social worker in a local court, which instructed the police on Monday to lodge a first information report (FIR) against the accused and initiate a probe.
The Gaya police on Tuesday said an FIR was registered against the monks, AC Lama, Ratneshwar Chakma and Chhota Bhante, and the probe had begun.
On Tuesday, police recorded the statement of the alleged victim under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a judicial magistrate, and started the procedure for her medical examination. The three monks, who have been living in Bodh Gaya for several years, have gone into hiding, police said.
According to the FIR, the three monks regularly visited the victim’s home on the outskirts of Bodh Gaya. Since the victim belonged to a very poor family, the monks allegedly paid the victim’s parents to keep them quiet.
Satyawati Kumari Gupta, a social activist and founder of Vatsali Nirbhaya Shakti, a non-government organisation that works with women and children in Gaya, came in contact with the victim, who narrated her ordeal. Gupta first approached the police, and then moved court.
The officer-in-charge of the SC/ST police station, Angad Paswan, said: “Steps have been initiated to ensure immediate arrest of the accused persons. Once the medical report comes, the inquiry will be expedited. The victim is currently under protection of the police and the NGO.”
Gupta said the victim’s family was incapable of bearing the legal expenditures. “But they need not worry as we are with them and will ensure that the case reaches its logical end soon.”
An Indo-Thai Buddhist Society functionary declined to comment on the case, saying it is under investigation. A monastery representative declined requests for a comment from the incharge.
courtesy: hindustantimes.com
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
