M A I N   N E W S

ISKCON admits to child abuse

CALCUTTA, June 15 (PTI) — The global headquarters of ISKCON today admitted sexual and physical abuse of young boys in their gurukuls, saying it was a “sad thing when the movement is trying to preach a very high level of morality across the world.”

“We do accept that the ashrams in Mayapur and Vrindavan have witnessed cases of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the past and that the boys have been psychologically effected by all this,” Dayaram Das, co-director of ISKCON’s headquarters at Mayapur told PTI over phone.

Das’s statement came after three dozen former students of the Hare Krishna boarding schools filed a $ 400 million lawsuit in Dallas, USA, on Monday against the leaders of the religious community alleging years of sexual, physical and emotional torture.

Citing the instance of sexual abuse of four boys in the nine-11 year age group during 1992 by older students of the Mayapur ashram, Das said ISKCON had immediately suspended the errant students after receiving complaints from the victims.

Parmanand to take charge next week
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Baboo Parmanand, the Governor designate of Haryana, is expected to be sworn in sometime next week. However, an official intimation in this regard is still awaited, sources in Raj Bhavan said.

The sources said that Mr Mahabir Prasad, the outgoing Governor, has left for Delhi today to do the winding up at his Delhi office. He is expected to come back to Chandigarh tomorrow.

Jind DSP held in murder case
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, June 15 — The Haryana police has arrested Jind’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (Jail) following disclosures made by three accused during interrogation after being apprehended on the charge of murder of a local businessman about a year ago. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Jail) R.K. Yadav was today produced in court and remanded to judicial custody till June 29.

The accused, who were arrested following the murder of businessman Romesh Miglani on April 21, last year told the police during interrogation that the plan to commit murder was hatched in Jind jail in connivance with R.K. Yadav for a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, the police said.

In December 1999, R.K. Yadav was transferred from Jind to Sonepat but he joined on June 12 this year, the police said.