Nepal: Spiritual leader 'Buddha boy' arrested over rape, kidnapping allegations

According to police, a contentious spiritual leader from Nepal known as “Buddha Boy” was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of sexually abusing a juvenile and having a hand in the disappearance of at least four of his followers from his camps.

Many Nepali people think that Ram Bahadur Bamjan is the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha who was born in southwestern Nepal approximately 2,600 years ago. Bamjan’s allegations have been met with skepticism by Buddhist experts.

According to Nabaraj Adhikari of the Central Investigation Bureau, Bamjan was taken into custody late on Tuesday from his home in a suburb of the nation’s capital, Kathmandu.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan was hauled before the media on Wednesday in handcuffs by the police, who claimed that upon their arrival, he attempted to escape by jumping from a second floor window, but was unable to flee.

In addition, a stack of Nepalese banknotes valued at $227,000 was on exhibit by authorities, along with other foreign currencies worth $23,000 that had been taken from the home at the time of the arrest.

It is anticipated that Bamjan would be brought to the accused offenses’ court in southern Nepal so he can face the judge there.

Later on Wednesday, a few dozen of his supporters gathered in front of the Central Investigation Bureau offices in Katmandu, where Bamjan was being kept. However, riot police forced them to retreat.

In 2005, Bamjan, often referred to as Buddha Boy, rose to fame in southern Nepal after it was widely thought that he could sit under a tree, devoid of food or drink, and meditate for months on end. Despite claims that he has physically and sexually abused his followers, he has maintained his popularity.

Even though his fame has now waned, he continues to run camps in southern Nepal, where thousands of his devotees come to live and worship him or just to pay them a visit.

After Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, Buddhism is regarded as the fourth-largest religious tradition in the world. It was established in India in 500 B.C.

(With agency inputs)