A 14-year-old girl was forced to go through a ‘virginity test’ by a self-proclaimed astrologer after she complained that she was raped by her father The victim repeatedly complained to her mother that she was raped by her father When the father refuted the claims, her mother took her to an astrologer The astrologer asked the victim to place her palm over a bed-of-nails. He said that if she bled after palm was stamped, she was lying about her father
A 14-year-old girl was forced to go through a ‘virginity test’ by a self-proclaimed astrologer after she complained that she was raped by her father.
The victim repeatedly complained to her mother that she was raped by her father. When the father refuted the claims, her mother took her to an astrologer, who is also the girl’s cousin.
The astrologer gave the victim the bed-of-nails test, a trick used by self-proclaimed astrologers to fool gullible people. The astrologer asked the victim to place her palm over the nails. He said that if she bled after her palm was stamped, she was lying about her father. The girl screamed in pain during the test, which alerted the neighbours who rushed in to rescue her.
Police have arrested Ramesh, the victim’s father, Mallesh, the victim’s cousin and the self-proclaimed astrologer, and his mother. Mallesh is Ramesh’s nephew. Mallesh’s mother is a soothsayer, and they operate in RG Nagar in Peenya.
An investigating officer told Bangalore Mirror that, “The family hails from Magadi. In the absence of his wife, a garments factory employee, the accused was alleged to have been regularly raping his daughter. He would then threaten to kill her mother if she spoke about the abuse. The girl, who kept quiet for some time, was unable to bear the harassment. She finally told her mother about the repeated rape. When the mother confronted her husband, the latter refuted the allegations and started scolding his daughter.”
It was Ramesh who suggested his wife take their daughter to his nephew Mallesh who would determine if Ramesh was guilty.
The police are recording the victim’s statement and will subject her and Ramesh to mandatory medical tests.
