Girl suspected to have eloped with monk, police start probe

EOI, SILIGURI, 24 Jul 2018: Relatives of a minor girl who reportedly went missing recently alleged that a monastic member of Siliguri branch of ISKON eloped with her. Although the ISKON authority denied connection with the incident, the guardians demanded that police should take steps immediately to recover the minor girl.

In the complaint lodged with police, relatives of the missing minor girl alleged that she had been lured and abducted by a monk of ISKON. They held a demonstration in front of ISKON, Siliguri premises on Tuesday morning. They claimed that the authority of the organization should help them with whereabouts of the monk.

However, ISKON authority in Siliguri said that the accused was not a monk of ISKON. “Many people come to our premises as we have large number of devotees. But responsibility of their misdeeds is not with us. We would cooperate with police in enquiry. But a reputed institution like ISKON should not be blamed unnecessarily,” a spokesperson said.

Police officials said that the monks of ISKON were asked about the incident after father of a missing girl referred to the institution in his complaint. “We are looking into the matter and trying to rescue the minor girl very quickly,” a police official said.