Victims were forced to make rape allegations, reveals probe

PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 28

Adding a twist to the registration of a rape case against priests of Guru Gian Nath Ashram located in Ram Tirath temple complex, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has exposed a conspiracy to topple the current head of the ashram Girdari Nath.

Video that exposed the conspiracy

During the investigation, the SIT stumbled upon a video which was made around a month ago in which the women were found accusing Girdari Nath and others of raping them. This made the cops suspicious and they interrogated the women they disclosed the entire conspiracy.

The SIT was headed by SP (Investigation) Amandeep Kaur. Two women were rescued from an alleged illegal detention from the temple complex on May 18 following the intervention of the Punjab SC/ST Commissioner member Tarsem Singh Sialka and in the presence of a magistrate. The duo had at that time accused priests Girdari Nath, Varinder Nath, Suraj Nath and Narchhatar Nath of raping them during the illegal confinement.

A case of rape and illegal detention was registered against the four while Girdari Nath and Varinder Nath were nabbed by the police.

A fresh FIR was registered against seven persons and two of them were arrested by the police on Thursday.

Vikram Jeet Duggal, SSP, Amritsar (rural), said during the investigation by the SIT, the ‘victims’ revealed the entire incident that they were lured and pressurised to give such statements against Girdari Nath and others. She alleged the accused kidnapped his son and forced them to accuse the priests of rape. They alleged the accused also promised to give them Rs 5 lakh and gave Rs 50,000 in advance. Her son was rescued from Mudal village where he was kept with relatives of Tirath Singh.

Their statements were recorded before a Judicial Magistrate at Ajnala where they admitted that they were not raped while initial medical examination report also confirmed the same. A fresh case was registered against seven persons. Those booked were identified as Tirath Singh, Joga, Sandeep Singh Meghnath, Sukhwinder Singh, Tarsem Singh and Gopal Singh.

Duggal said Tirath Singh and Joga Singh were arrested by the police while raids were on to nab the remaining suspects.

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