Minor girl raped for 2 years by godman at Ashram in Andhra Pradesh

In a shocking incident, Visakhapatnam City Police arrested an ashram swami accused of torturing and sexually assaulting a minor girl residing in the ashram orphanage.

The accused, identified as Swami Poornananda (64), held the position of director at the Swami Gnanananda Ashram located in Venkojipalem. The ashram not only served as a spiritual retreat, but also housed an orphanage and nursing home.

Disturbingly, this is not the first time the swami has faced such accusations, as he was previously arrested in 2011 for raping a 13-year-old girl.

According to the police investigation, the victim, now 15 years old, had been subjected to a year-long ordeal of repeated captivity, torture and sexual abuse at the hands of the swami. Surprisingly, during this period, he was provided with a meager diet consisting of only two tablespoons of rice mixed with water.

Also, he was granted permission to bathe only once every fortnight. The minor herself also made a heartbreaking revelation in her complaint, stating that she was not allowed to use the bathroom and was forced to urinate in a bucket. This torture persisted for an agonizing duration of two years.

In a brave attempt to escape the torment, the minor managed to flee the ashram on June 13, with the help of a maid who worked there. Boarding the Tirumala Express, she shared her traumatic experiences with a compassionate passenger. However, when the woman tried to secure the girl's admission to a hostel in Kankipadu, Krishna district, the organizers of the hostel refused to accept her without a letter from the police station.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the minor girl and the woman approached the Kankipadu Police Station, where they were subsequently referred to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for further support and guidance. The victim underwent medical tests in Vijayawada to gather evidence against the accused, according to a statement from Deputy Police Chief Ch Vivekananda of the Disha Police Station.

The arrest of Swami Poornananda on charges of rape (under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act shocks the community.

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