Lucknow: Hardoi police on Sunday arrested a faith healer for raping a minor girl on the pretext of performing a ritual to cure her persistent headache.An FIR was lodged against the accused under the POCSO Act following a complaint by the girl’s father.According to the complaint, the minor was suffering from frequent headaches. On the suggestion of their neighbour, the girl’s father took her to Ramteerth Yadav in Jaitapur village on Aug 8 for faith-healing ritual.The father alleged that Yadav took the girl into a room and began performing rituals and chanting mantras. Around 10 pm, the accused asked the girl’s father to leave the room, claiming that he needed to perform the ritual alone.After some time, the man heard his daughter crying and screaming from the room.The girl told her father that the accused had sexually assaulted her and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone.Station house officer Prince Kumar said police registered an FIR against the accused under the POCSO Act and other legal provisions.“The accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway,” the SHO said.
