Local police of Assam’s Morigaon district on August 22 arrested a farmer turned godman who claimed to cure people through kisses. Reportedly that 31-year-old Ram Prakash Chauhan alias ‘Kissing Baba’ was arrested after they received complaints that he was hugging and kissing women as some sort of therapy.
According to the Hindustan Times, Chauhan, who is unmarried, only took up the “healing” profession recently. Three months ago, he had also set up a temple the district’s Bhoraltup village and claimed to possess supernatural powers which enabled him to resolve psychological and physical problems of women. The young godman mostly operated out of the verandah of his house where he lives with his parents.
Chauhan earned his name of the ‘Kissing Baba’ for his ‘chamatkari chumban’, or miraculous smooch which would apparently cure people’s woes.
Morigaon: Police arrested a self-styled godman Ram Prakash Chauhan from Bhoraltup village on August 22; he used to hug and kiss women on the pretext of curing their physical and psychological problems with his ‘supernatural powers’. #Assam pic.twitter.com/eZH903iCb3
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2018
“An incarnation of Lord Vishnu”
The sexual assaulter or ‘baba’ claimed that he had got supernatural powers to solve physical and psychological problems of women, including marital discord. The ‘baba’ claimed his smooch to be a therapy.
The head of Morigaon police, J. Bora told The Hindu that, the police has police has arrested the self-styled godman after receiving complaints that he was hugging and kissing women as some kind of therapy. “ He was exploiting his devotees, especially women,” said the police. According to the police, Chauhan has been arrested under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 417 (cheating) and 419 (cheating by personation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The police have also arrested godman’s mother for spreading the fake news of her son being an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The mother promoted his son by saying that her son’s therapeutic powers are “acquired from Lord Vishnu” and can be transmitted through kisses on any woman seeking a cure.
Low literacy in the village
Reportedly, Morigaon district has one of the lowest literacy ratio rates among 32 other districts in the state, mainly because of a village, Mayong where scores of ojha or bej (wizards) have been practising superstitions for ages.
Another sensational healer in the district who claimed to cure illnesses with the aid of herbal medicine was 12-year-old Tinku Deka. The police in 2001, reportedly had a tough time controlling his devotees.
The Logical Indian take
In our country, many self-styled godmen and god women have fooled people in the name of religion and superstitions. From a position of trust, these people harass, molest and abuse those who have come to them during their time of distress. The police and the state authorities should make some efforts to raise awareness about superstitious and irrational beliefs.
Also Read: Self Styled Godman Asaram Bapu Convicted By Jodhpur Court In Sexual Assault Case
