A self-proclaimed godman and two of his associates have been accused of illegally confining and gangraping a woman for several days at his ashram. The ashram in question is Shamsi, which comes under the Ratua Police station in Malda district in West Bengal. The victim is a resident of Nadia.

She was invited to stay in the ashram to 'rid her of the evil spirit that possessed her'. Police have nabbed three persons in the wee hours of Thursday and the victim was sent for medical examination on Friday.

Sources said that Bacchu Giri, chief of the ashram, visited Kamakhya temple for the annual fair with two of his associates Shankar and Dhanai. The accuesed met the woman at the fair five days ago.

Some faith healer in her village had reportedly told her that she was 'possessed by a spirit'. He reportedly was unable to 'cure' her and asked her to proceed to Kamakhya to find a cure. She met the accused at the fair who assured her that their guru has cured such cases in the past and asked her to accompany them back to the ashram. Once they they reached Shamsi they asked her to stay back at the ashram for a few days to get cured.

The woman was then confined to the ashram for several days and she alleges that she was tortured and gangraped in the name of a 'cure'.

The woman somehow managed to escape the ashram. Once out she sought the help of locals and approached the Shamsi police outpost with her complaint. Based on her complaint police raided the ashram and arrested all three accused. Police said that after the medical tests arrangements would be made to send her back to her home in Nadia.

Chanchal Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sajalkanti Biswas said that police have sealed the ashram in question and ordered an inquiry. It is being ascertained if the accused have committed such crimes in the past too.