Girls found in ashram seem ‘hypnotised’

INVESTIGATION HAMPERED AS SURVIVORS REFUSE TO SPEAK TO COUNSELLORS

Counselling has failed to yield results as group of 67 unwilling to answer any questions about themselves |

Counselling of 67 girls, found in a police raid on an ashram being run in a hotel in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand, has not yet yielded results as they are unwilling to answer any questions about themselves and seem “hypnotised”, a child rights panel member said yesterday.

“The girls from different parts of the country were found on Wednesday and sent to Balika Grah. Now, we are conducting counselling of these girls, but not all is OK with them. They seem to be hypnotised.

“They don’t want to speak on any subject. They are neither asking for food nor are they speaking the facts but instead screaming at us saying they were their under their own wish and will,” said Bhavna Paliwal, a member of the Children Welfare Committee.

She added there were no registration papers for the ashram, being run in a hotel hall, or information as to who runs it. No records of the girls are available at the premises.

Paliwal said that a few people have approached them claiming to be the parents of some of the girls but they cannot be trusted and are suspected to be the owners of the ashram.

Presently, the Children Welfare Committee, Childline and Balika Grah are counselling the girls, while there has been a strict vigil by police outside.

Paliwal said that what triggered further suspicion is the statement of one girl’s father from Dholpur who said that someone hypnotised his daughter three years back and she left her home.

“She is now 14 and doesn’t want to return. He also doesn’t know who runs this ashram,” she said.

Mystery organisation

Police sources said that they have been informed that these girls are connected to Prajapati Sanstha situated on Abu Road and have come here to learn spiritual education and the matter is being investigated.

Meanwhile, Paliwal said that if the girls are here for so many days, they need to register their whereabouts with the hotel or with the administration, but there are no records available.

“Why have they left their education and are learning only spirituality in this shady place,” she asked. The girls will stay in Balika Grah till their antecedents were established.