Pinjore temple priest's daughter alleges molestation, 7 booked

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 29

The daughter of a temple priest in Pinjore has alleged that she was beaten and molested by those seeking her father’s removal from his post.

The police said earlier this year too, both parties had registered cases against each other in the same matter.

On a complaint of a 20-year-old girl, the police have registered a case against seven persons, including four women, under Sections 34, 323, 354-B, 506 and 509 of the IPC.

Those booked have been identified as Raghubir Sodhi, Amita Parmar, Sanjay Parmar, Poonam Tiwari, Dev Dutt Tiwari, Bimla Kaundal and Babita.

The complainant told the police that on December 28, one of the suspects, Amita Parmar, and her female friends first entered into a quarrel with her father.

“Later in the evening, the suspects barged into the temple, roughed up my father and tried to push him out of the temple. They also used foul language against us. Sanjay Parmar later started slapping me and torn my clothes. Other suspects also physically assaulted me,” the FIR read quoting the complainant. She also expressed threat to her life.

Ram Pal, SHO of the Pinjore police station, said: “It’s a matter of power struggle. One of two temple management committees is seeking removal of the present priest. Earlier also, both parties had filed a case against each other.”

He said the police were yet to arrest any suspect in the case. The girl’s statement would be recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC before the magistrate tomorrow.