Fearful, Asaram rape survivor kin to skip verdict

BAREILLY/ SHAHJAHANPUR: The family of the girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted by godman Asaram in his Jodhpur ashram when she was 16 has decided not to visit Jodhpur due to security concerns ahead of the announcement of the verdict in the rape case on April 25.
The girl’s father said, “Asaram has gathered a big crowd for the verdict. There is no point in taking the risk, and we will stay on at our home in Shahjahanpur.In the past, when we have gone to Jodhpur with security cover, the policemen got calls from their friends and relatives, and told them our location. We wanted to go, but our trip was cancelled due to security concerns.” After the girl’s family lodged an FIR against Asaram in August 2013, they have allegedly been receiving direct and indirect threats from him and his followers.
The father said, “Like gangsters, rapists too should be killed in encounters because families have to fight cases for a long time. It takes years for a rapist to get punishment. Such people have no right to live. We want the court to give life term to Asaram and want him to suffer for the rest of his life.”
The family claimed that Asaram and his followers attacked witnesses to weaken the case. “Two witnesses in this case — Amrut Prajapati and Kripal Singh — were killed in 2014 and 2015 respectively while the third witness, Rahul Sachan, who had survived a knife attack in February 2015 outside a Jodhpur court, has been missing. Two more witnesses are missing while the remaining witnesses have been threatened,’’ said the girl’s father.
The girl who is now 21 is pursuing BCom through private mode. “Due to threats to our lives, we have been under virtual house arrest. It takes a toll on the health of my daughter when she repeatedly has to narrate her ordeal to media and others,’’ said the father.
The girl had earlier told TOI, “I step out of my house only for court hearing and in case of emergencies because of threats to our lives. I miss going to a regular college, shopping, chatting with friends and playing badminton and football. I used to feel bad that my siblings have been deprived of normal life and my father’s business has been ruined because of regular court visits. I have now accepted things as they are. It may appear that we are being punished but I am confident that our life will return to normal once Asaram is convicted.”