Woman has alleged torture at centre

A former instructor with the Yoga Charitable Trust at Thripunithura, where a 28-year-old woman was allegedly tortured, has alleged that the men and women who got married outside their caste and religion were brought to the centre and subjected to torture.

In his petition, former instructor Krishnakumar A.V. said such persons were brought to the centre by a Hindu helpline. The girls were tortured at various branches of the yoga centre. If women could not be controlled, they were administered drug injections.

He alleged that the institution injected hatred into the minds of the residents against Muslims and Christians. They often engaged male staff to trap girls who had inter-religious affairs. He and a few others had left the centre as they could not endorse the illegal activities, including the sexual abuse of girls, perpetrated by Manoj, who runs the centre.

The petitioner said he was willing to share details of the illegal activities at the centre. However, the court needed to issue a directive to the police to record his statement, as otherwise, the police would not do it.

The former yoga instructor filed the petition in a habeas corpus case filed by Rinto Issac from Thrissur, who claimed to have married the woman held captive at the centre.