Minor assaulted at Satlok Ashram in Sonipat; accused remanded

A minor boy was sexually assaulted at the Satlok Ashram in Dhanana, Sonipat district, and a man has been arrested in connection with the case, police said.

The accused, identified as Sachin, a resident of Kasandi village, was taken into custody on September 24 and produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gohana) Jitender Gehlawat said.

According to the police, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee informed the Baroda police on September 23 about the alleged incident involving the minor, who had come to the ashram. A police team subsequently took the child into protective care along with his father.

The child was later taken to a hospital in Khanpur Kalan, where he underwent counselling and the necessary medical and legal procedures. It was during counselling that he provided information about the alleged incident, the police said.

A case was registered at the Baroda police station on September 24 under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, based on the statement of the child's father and the information received from the CWC.

Police said the accused was questioned following his arrest and that further legal proceedings were initiated as per law.

The ashram is associated with self-styled preacher Rampal, the 74-year-old sect leader who walked out of jail in April this year after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in a sedition case. That case was registered in connection with clashes between his supporters and the police at the Satlok Ashram in Hisar's Barwala in 2014.