Ashram owner arrested for harassing children

The owner of an ashram in Shukertal was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing four children and forcing them and the others to work as labourers, police said on Friday. Swami Bhakti Bhushan Govind Maharaj was arrested when he was trying to escape from the ashram, they said. According to Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar, a case was registered against the owner and others. On July 7, a team of childcare helpline and police rescued eight children then and two later. They were aged between seven to ten years and hailed from Tripura, Mizoram and Assam. —