Athira denies torture allegations after police action against Yoga Centre

Kerala police have closed down the Yoga Centre following a complaint that women, who had converted from Hinduism, were being tortured here for returning to their original faith. The police along with panchayat officials took the decision after it was found that the centre was functioning without a license. 

A woman from Kannur had filed a police complaint that as many as 65 women, who had converted from Hinduism, were held captive and tortured at the centre.

A counselling centre under the name Arsha Vidya Samajam was also functioning at the place. 

Also read: Ghar wapsi: '65 women held captive, tortured in Kochi yoga centre'

Police conducted a search at the centre following the complaint and found that as many as 25 women and 20 men were there for counselling. The cops informed that they would be sent back home with their relatives. 

Meanwhile, the complainant said that she was tortured, both mentally and physically, at the centre. She also claimed that they threatened her and asked her to kill her Christian husband. The people at the centre also threatened her showing private videos of her husband, she told Asianet News. 

While considering the Habeas Corpus petition, the High Court asked whether such centres aim to create more godmen like Ram Rahim. 

Meanwhile, Athira, the girl who returned to Hinduism after converting to Islam confirmed that she was there at the Yoga Centre at Kochi. However, she denied allegations of torture and said that people at the Centre were very friendly to her. 

Watch her video