"Buddha Boy Arrested: Nepalese Spiritual Leader Accused of Assaulting Minor and Followers"
11 Jan 2024 9:46 AM IST
Nepalese spiritual leader Ram Bahadur Bamjan, known as Buddha Boy, is arrested for sexually assaulting a minor and possible involvement in followers' disappearances. Controversial guru's arrest sparks reactions and reevaluation in Buddhist community.
Nepalese spiritual leader Ram Bahadur Bamjan, also known as "Buddha Boy," has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and his potential involvement in the disappearance of several of his followers. The controversial guru, who claims to be the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, was apprehended in Kathmandu after attempting to flee from his residence. A substantial amount of Nepalese and foreign currency was seized from his house at the time of the arrest, and Bamjan is expected to face legal proceedings in the southern part of the country where the alleged crimes occurred. This shocking turn of events comes amid long-standing accusations of physical and sexual abuse by the 33-year-old guru, who has continued to attract followers to his camps in southern Nepal. His arrest has sparked strong reactions from his supporters, who gathered outside the Central Investigation Bureau offices in Kathmandu, where Bamjan was being held, prompting intervention by riot police. Despite his declining popularity, Bamjan has maintained camps in southern Nepal where thousands of his followers come to live, worship, or visit him. Buddhist scholars have remained skeptical of Bamjan's claims, but his case has prompted a reevaluation of his influence within the Buddhist community and stands as a contentious chapter in the contemporary narrative of the world's fourth-largest religion, with historical roots dating back to 500 B.C. in India.
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