Accused commits suicide in custody, probe ordered

SHIMLA: A self-styled godman, who was arested after American traveller Justin Alexander Shelter, 35, went missing en route to Mantalai lake, committed suicide in police custody on Friday night.

‘Godman’ Satya Narayan Rawat hanged himself from ceiling with help of his loincloth in Manikaran police post. A local court had remanded him in police custody till October 24.

He was the last person seen with Justin but did not reveal anything to the police during interrogation.

“Police has suspended one constable and transferred the in-charge of Manikaran police post. Besides this, chief judicial magistrate Kullu is conducting a judicial inquiry in this matter,” a senior police officer told HT, requesting anonymity.

The godman was arrested in September. Padam Chand, superintendent of police, Kullu confirmed the suicide in police custody but refused to comment since judicial probe was on.

Justin Alexander Shelter, a backpacker from America, arrived in Kullu in mid-August this year to travel across the Kullu valley that attracts tourists from far and wide. But shortly after he arrived, he went missing.

Justin Alexander in his blog on August 18 had written that he wanted to live a life of hermit in the caves. He mentioned that he had been mediating in the cave and at the same time feeling malnourished.

A case was lodged only after his mother, Susanne Reeb (65), came from United States and registered a complaint.

Suspecting Justin was kidnapped by the said godman, police detained him but could not reach anywhere.

The police then questioned Anil, a local porter, who carried Justin’s luggage till Mantalai.

SELF-STYLED GODMAN SATYA NARAYAN RAWAT WAS LAST SEEN WITH JUSTIN ALEXANDER SHELTER WHO WENT MISSING RECENTLY