Hunt on for child snatching Indian 'tantrik'

Thursday February 24, 2011 03:53:50 PM, IANS

Kathmandu: A hunt is on in the southern plains of Nepal adjoining the Indian border as well as the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for a 'tantrik' - regarded by traditional society as a man with supernatural powers - who abducted a seven-year-old girl.

A manhunt has been started for Kalika Murao, who comes from Chhaheliya village in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, after he spirited away seven-year-old Chetna Champa Harijan from the grounds of a temple in Banke district in southwestern Nepal, police said.

The girl went missing last summer. Police investigations showed Murao had taken her to Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

The girl, who belongs to the economically and socially disadvantaged Dalit community, was finally traced to the residence of a man called Rajendra Prasad Awasthi in Shahjahanpur last week, police said.

When her father Sumiran Champa Harijan reached the Indian district with a police team, she was first handed over to Nari Niketan, a state-run shelter for women and children, and then finally brought back to Nepal.

Police said the abductor could be hiding in Nepal and are on the lookout for him in the plains.

There were no immediate details available about the motive behind the abduction.

According to tradition, tantriks regard young girls and women as an essential part of their quest to attain supernatural powers.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Godhra: Justice Banerjee stands by his findings

Justice U C Banerjee, who had described the Godhra train carnage as "accidental", today said he  »

Forensic report on Godhra train burning dents Govt./VHP claims

How will they get back their 9 years, asks mother of 3 acquitted in Godhra case

Godhra verdict travesty of justice, says lawyer Prashant Bhushan

  Most Read

Government to meet Muslim MPs on Haj facility reforms

The government Thursday said it will soon call a meeting of Muslim members from both houses of parliament to seek suggestions on reforming Haj pilgrimage facilities. "I plan to convene a   »

Glitch forces ISRO to shut educational channel, students suffer

Indian space agency ISRO has suspended the telecast of popular educational programmes in many states due to an unidentified glitch in its ground equipment, says a senior official. As a result, millions of students have been affected. "This is the first time we have been asked to suspend conducting    »

  News Pick

Jamia to study 'minority institution' status for implementation

Jamia Millia Islamia said Wednesday it will study the judgment by the National Commission   »

Jamia is minority institution, rules Commission

Vastanvi to remain as Rector, rules Darul Uloom Shura, but clips his wings

Darul Uloom Deoband shura has ruled that Ghulam Mohammad   »

Have resigned, but not under pressure: Deoband vice chancellor

Mumbai HC declares Malegaon MLA Dada Bhuse's election void

In a major setback for the BJP-Shiv Sena opposition in Maharashtra, the Mumbai High Court February 23 declared the election of Dada Bhuse from Malegaon outer assembly constituency as void. Two time MLA from Malegaon,   »

Rahat mulls legal action against Indian officials

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was arrested at the Delhi airport for carrying undeclared foreign currency, is contemplating legal action against the   »

Rahat, manager fined Rs.1.5 mn each

Protests singe Arab world, Gaddafi defiant as Libya burns

Muammar Gaddafi Wednesday clung to power as rebellion against his four-decade rule intensified and a Libyan diplomat disclosed that the leader had called for genocide. As the death toll of the latest uprising in the Arab world reached 500  »