Kota: Under the pretext of getting rid of debt and the ill influence of spirits, a 41-year-old tantrik in Jhalawar abducted a minor girl from her home and raped her for 3-4 days. Police rescued the minor girl from Kekari in Ajmer district on June 26 and arrested the accused Monday. Jhalawar SP Richa Tomer identified the accused as Prahald Mehar, 41, a resident of Raipur police station area in the district. In a report to the police station on Monday last week, the girl’s father had stated that Mehar worked as an occultist in the area. He assured the family of getting rid of their debt and the ill influence of spirits over their minor daughter through tantric rituals, the SP said.Mehar called the family to his ashram in Raipur on the night of June 22, when he pretended to perform tantric rituals until late at night. The family found the tantrik and their minor girl missing the next morning.A police team led by sub-inspector Bannalal launched a search operation that eventually concluded on Thursday last week when the minor girl was rescued from Kekari in Ajmer district, the SP said. Upon revelation of repeated rape by the tantrik, a medical board conducted a medical examination of the survivor, who was later handed over to family members, the SP added. Police incorporated sections of rape under BNS and Pocso Act in their case of abduction and produced the tantrik before court on Tuesday. The court granted two-day police custody for interrogation, SHO at Raipur police station, Bannalal said. tnn
