Yoga centre 'torture': Bengaluru woman offers to step in as witness

 It was in late September that a yoga centre near Kochi closed down following allegations that Hindu woman inmates were being “tortured” to come out of marriages with men from other religions. Now, a woman from Bengaluru has revealed her month-long ordeal at the Sivasakthi Yogavidya Kendram in Tripunithura and offered to help as a witness in the case.

Udayamperoor Police had registered a case following a complaint by Swetha, an Ayurveda practitioner from Kannur, that she was “detained” for 22 days and tortured by staff at the centre to abandon her marriage to a Christian, Rinto Isaac. She also alleged that over 60 other woman inmates were detained at the centre under similar conditions. Now, a 27-year-old woman from Jeevan Bima Nagar in Bengaluru has requested the Kerala State Police Chief to consider her as a witness in the case.

The woman, a native of Andhra Pradesh, was taken to the centre by her parents who were against her relationship with a colleague, a Christian. She was allegedly detained, from March 30 to May 1, and subjected to “mental and physical torture”. Police arrested a trainer following Swetha’s revelation; four others including the centre’s founder – Manoj aka Guruji – are absconding.

The complainant from Bengaluru identified, apart from Manoj, nine other staff at the centre, in a letter to the DGP. She said she was beaten up on her first day at the centre where loud music was played when inmates were physically assaulted. The yoga centre allegedly conducted sessions aimed at “re-converting” women back to Hinduism. Authorities at the centre have denied the allegations.

“After they repeatedly tortured me, asking me to abandon my boyfriend, I convinced them and my family that I was ready to marry a Hindu man and asked a friend to come over. I had an understanding with him; we faked a marriage and I walked out,” she told DH. The wedding was held at a temple in Idukki, on May 1.

She has filed a petition at a Bengaluru family court and is awaiting the outcome of a hearing, in November, regarding annulment of the marriage. She backed Swetha’s allegations and said she was trying to ensure justice to the other inmates.

A division bench of the Kerala High Court, hearing Swetha’s petition, had termed her allegations “shocking” and directed the police to submit a probe report.