Woman preacher gang-raped in Jharkhand ashram: Police

A woman preacher was allegedly gang-raped at an ashram in Jharkhand's Godda district on Tuesday, police said. A group of men scaled wall of ashram around 2.30 am, entered it and held ascetics and preachers at gunpoint, y said.

At that time re were four women preachers and a shu present in ashram, located in Ranidih in Muffasil police station area, y ded.

y locked ors in a room and took turns in raping young preacher who was staying in ashram since February, said Superintendent of Police YS Ramesh.

She came to ashram in February to attend a religious function but got stuck re due to lockdown, he said.

or shus informed some locals over phone while being held inside room but by time y could arrive, accused fled from spot, police said.

"Among accused was a man from Pathwara area whom we knew. We urged him to let go of us but y didn't care," said an inmate of ashram.

woman has been sent for medical examination and a team has been formed to investigate matter, officer said.

Some people have been detained for questioning but main accused is absconding, he ded.

" woman, who is in her early 30s, is in a state of trauma but we have assured her that we will soon arrest those behind incident," officer said.