A man has been arrested for torturing and assaulting his wife, and causing her miscarriage.
Khanderao Gaikwad, a resident of Nashik, had attacked his wife after following the advice of a self-proclaimed godman Sham Baba Shinde. Gaikwad’s mother Bibabai is a devotee of the godman. According to police officials, the godman had told Gaikwad that his wife Suwarna was pregnant with a demon girl, who would cause his ruin in the future.
He told him that the demon infant should be thrashed and exorcised fully, to avoid it from returning and haunting them. The attack took place in front of the godman. Gaikwad allegedly kept kicking his wife in the belly, even as the godman looked on and smiled. After the brutal attack, the godman blessed Gaikwad.
Suwarna, who suffered a miscarriage in the incident, is currently serious.
Though the incident took place on April 4, it was only brought to light on Monday by Andhshradh a Nirmulan Samiti (ANS).
The police moved quickly and after investigating the case arrested the godman, Gaikwad and seven of his family members, including his mother, brothers and maternal uncles. “They have been remanded to police custody till Wednesday,” PSI P.A. Deshmukh said.
According to sources, Suwarna had married Gaikwad in June last year. As her family was poor, they could not honour the financial commitments made to her in-laws.
Gaikwad wanted `1.5 lakh to repair his house; when Suwarna’s parents were unable to pay the amount, he, along with his mother started harassing her.
Speaking to The Asian Age, Mahendra Datrange, district chief of ANS said that strict action should be taken against such godmen.