Umreth: Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) temple’s pujari is facing allegations of raping a mentally challenged girl in Umreth. Local police are probing this case. Pujari(60-year old) who is facing allegations is from Chaklasi village nearby, and hired externally by the organization and he is not BAPS sadhu or not part of the BAPS organization.

The dead body of a newborn baby was found in an abandoned condition near Ram pond in Umreth on Saturday. Upon investigation, the police found that it was the child of a mentally challenged girl. The girl was taken to Ahmedabad-based civil hospital. According to the victim’s father, when the police team questioned her at the civil hospital, she said she was raped by BAPS Swaminarayan temple’s priest.

The victim gave birth to the baby while she was on a nature call. She was then taken to Nadiad civil hospital. Police later found the newborn baby dead near Ram pond. The victim’s father said that his wife had previously worked at the temple, but after her death, he and his daughter started working there. The victim’s father stated that his daughter was raped when she visited the temple to carry a tiffin.

The victim was first taken to the Nadiad-based hospital due to heavy bleeding, and later transferred to Ahmedabad civil hospital. The victim’s father told media persons that the accused priest had threatened to kill her, which kept her silent. The claims of victim and her father are under investigation and police have not confirmed them yet. DeshGujarat

(This story was updated after fresh inputs)