TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
BELGAUM: Attempts of a fraudulent swamiji to mislead people in the name of God and miracle have been exposed as officials late Tuesday night rescued a seven-year-old girl from an Ashram at Zunzarwad village near Athani, about 150 kms from Belgaum.
The swamiji, who had tied and lodged the girl in an underground cave-like structure, had claimed that he had burnt her and she would come back alive as a deity on the day of Mahashivaratri on Thursday.
According to the district administration, the swamiji Sadashivappa Nemagouda alias Appaiahswamy claimed that the girl was given to him by her parents and was kept tied since February 2.
“I wanted to show people that she is a goddess, who would never die even after she was killed,” the swamiji told authorities and informed he had also managed to mislead the people by showing that she was burnt by setting the place where the girl was kept on fire.
However, his attempts were thwarted as a team led by Athani Tahasildar Aparna Pavate raided the ashram Tuesday midnight and found the girl sleeping. Her body, except eyes, was smeared with ash and saffron powder. The girl was shifted to the taluka hospital where she was diagnosed normal.
Police have also rescued five other children between the age group of 7 to 9 from the premises of the ashram. They have been handed over to the Women and Child Welfare department.
