A 33-year-old woman has died in India after being allegedly tied to a pillar for around 10 days while "faith healing" rituals were performed to treat her suspected mental illness. Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested her husband, a 71-year-old self-styled godman, and his 55-year-old associate.
Incident and Arrests
The incident occurred in the Deva area of Barabanki district. The woman, from Gomtinagar in Lucknow, was taken to the Community Health Centre in Deva on Monday evening after her condition deteriorated. Doctors later declared her dead.
Police said a preliminary inquiry found she had been tied to a pillar near a shrine in the Deva area for about 10 days. Rituals were allegedly being carried out there to treat what was believed to be her mental illness.
Complaint and Legal Action
In a complaint to police, the woman's father alleged that his son-in-law, along with the godman and his associate, kept his daughter tied to the pillar while performing "exorcism" and other rituals. He claimed her condition worsened before she died.
Station House Officer Alok Mani Tripathi said the three men were arrested following the complaint. They have been charged and remanded in judicial custody after appearing before a court.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further legal action will depend on the post-mortem examination results and the inquiry's outcome.
