World · India Bureau
Three people missing after visiting ashram in India; families demand answers
Three individuals, including a 16-year-old boy, have gone missing following visits to an ashram run by spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj, prompting distressed families to stage protests outside the facility. Ashram staff have dismissed allegations of foul play as conspiracy theories.
LSN India ·
Three families gathered outside Premanand Maharaj's ashram demanding information about their missing relatives, including a teenager named Mayank, 16, who vanished after visiting the religious center for darshan, a Hindu ritual of seeking blessings from a spiritual leader.
The families expressed anguish over the unexplained disappearances, with relatives questioning what happened to the three individuals after they entered the ashram premises. The protest outside the facility reflected growing concern among the families about the circumstances surrounding the vanishings.
Ashram staff members countered the families' concerns by attributing the allegations to a coordinated conspiracy against the religious institution. They dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing, though they did not provide detailed explanations regarding the whereabouts of the missing persons.
The incident has raised questions about accountability and transparency at the ashram. Authorities have not yet issued official statements regarding investigations into the matter or the status of the missing individuals.
The case highlights ongoing concerns in some parts of India regarding oversight of religious institutions and the welfare of visitors seeking spiritual guidance at ashrams and similar facilities.