Bodh Gaya: Buddhist monk arrested over sexual harassment charges

Bihar Police on Saturday arrested a senior Buddhist monk, Bhante Shanghpriya Sujoy, accused of allegedly sexually abusing 15 boys at a meditation centre he ran in the holy town of Bodh Gaya. The boys have complained that they had been beaten, abused and forced to dance naked.

The Gaya police officials took Sujoy into custody at the international pilgrim town Bodh Gaya. The complaint was lodged by 15 boys from Assam who were studying at a school-cum-meditation centre run by the senior Buddhist monk.

As per the reports, as published in NDTV, all the 15 boys belong from the Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The police stated that they acted quickly after they received information that the boys were being sexually exploited by the monk.

Briefing about the probe, Superintendent of Police (City) of Gaya, Anil Kumar, said on Friday, as quoted by the news website, “The children are being questioned by the SHO of Mahila Thana. They will be produced before a magistrate tomorrow and their statements recorded under the relevant CrPC section. They will also be taken for medical tests based on the results of which a case may be lodged against the monk.”

Another senior officer at Bodh Gaya told AFP that there are serious allegations against the monk. He stated, “The children complained to their guardians about physical and sexual abuse by their head monk. “The children say they were thrashed and sexually abused at the school. They were locked up without food and water if they resisted.”

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