JAMMU: J&K Police on Monday arrested one government employee for allegedly raping a woman in the guise of an "exorcist- Conman" in Samba district of the UT.
Sharing further details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Samba, Benam Tosh said, "A Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department employee has been arrested for committing rape on a middle-aged woman in the guise of an "exorcist" after inducing her to visit his house on the pretext of healing her skin disease through 'magical powers".
"The victim filed an application before the court alleging that the accused had committed rape on her posing himself as an "exorcist" possessing supernatural healing powers effective enough to cure her skin disease," said SSP Samba.
He added, "The victim in her complaint, stated she alongwith her sister had gone to a famous Baba Siddh Goriya temple, Swankha in the district where the accused took-in her to visit his house where he locked the door, gave "charnamrit" (holy water) and ‘vibhuti’ due to which she got unconscious and the accused committed rape on her.
He said, "A case was registered under relevant sections at Police Station Ramgarh, on the directions of the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Samba and further investigation is underway."
"The accused has been arrested and has been identified as an employee (Fitter) of PHE department namely Subash Chander son of Durga Dass of village Rarian Ramgarh of district Samba."
The arrest was made by police team comprising of SHO police station Ramgarh Sudesh Kumar and PSI Vikrant Kotwal under the supervision of Additional SP Samba Surinder Choudhary.
SSP Samba Tosh said that priority of the police is to curb crime against women in the district and all accused against whom cases of rape are registered and proved after thorough investigation, shall be arrested under law.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
