Ajmer priest sent to jail for trying to rape 7-year-old in temple

The priest of Kalichat temple in Kalyanipura area of Ajmer, who was booked under the POCSO Act allegedly for trying to rape a seven-year-old girl on Thursday, was sent to jail by a local court on Friday.

The priest, Swami Shivanand alias Balwant, 49, was arrested under section 151 of the CrPC, but later police booked under the POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences) Act after medical examination of the victim, said Harpal Singh, the station house office of Alwar Gate police station.

“After amendment in POCSO Act even an attempt to outrage modesty of a girl is considered as sexual assault on her, and findings of medical report has prima facie proved that he made an attempt to outrage the girl’s modesty,” Singh added.

According to the police, the victim’s father filed a complaint on Thursday evening alleging that the priest attempted to rape his daughter. The complainant said he and his daughter had gone to Kalichat temple. “Later, I planned to visit Hanuman temple located at some height on a hill rock. Sensing the little child would find it difficult to climb, I left her at Kalichat temple,” stated the victim’s father. “When I returned after praying at Hanuman temple, I saw Swami had tricked my daughter in his room adjoining the temple and was trying to molest her,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, the residents of Kalyanipura area expressed their anger against the accused and submitted a memorandum to the police demanding “harshest punishment” for the priest.