KANPUR: A 30-year-old national level Taekwondo player has alleged that she was gang-raped inside an ashram in Govind nagar area of Kanpur.The incident which took place in January, came to light following registration of an FIR on Thursday.The police said that an investigation is underway, and a video with regard to the incident that surfaced on social media, is being examined.The player alleged that over the pretext of patronizing a shop near the Ashram, an elderly man took her to a house, asking her to meet some people. There, the incident was carried out when she became unconscious after being given `laddoo’ (sweet) laced with sedatives.The accused also made an obscene video of her and threatened to make it viral.The survivor met DCP South on Thursday with her complaint.The survivor said that she used to run a shop of old clothes on the footpath in Govindnagar market on every Tuesday.An elderly man of the area asked her for four thousand rupees in exchange for setting up a shop.Then he assured her saying that he will take her to an Ashram to meet some influential people, who will help her secure a location for a shop. Trusting his words, she went together to meet them on January 28. There she was offered `laddoo’ laced with sedatives. After which she lost consciousness. She alleged that she was then gang-raped by elderly man, the ashram’s head priest, and two others.She named four individuals in the assault, including temple priests. She alleged that the four also made an obscene video of her and started threatening to make it viral.ADCP South Mahesh Kumar stated that an FIR has been registered at Govind nagar police station. “A video has also been submitted, and on Saturday, we inspected the Ashram room which is visible in the video. We are examining all aspects and will take further action accordingly,” Kumar said.In response to the allegations, the Ashram’s priest apprised police that they were attending Kumbh in Prayagraj during the time of the incident. “They have provided photos and videos as evidence to support their claim,” informed a police official privy to the investigation.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
