Woman alleges torture at yoga centre

A 28-year-old woman, who is allegedly being detained in a yoga centre at Udayamperoor, Tripunithura, informed the Kerala High Court on Monday that 65 women are illegally kept there.

In an affidavit filed in the High Court, the woman said she had married Rinto Issac from Thrissur. Her father and family members took her to a counselling unit run by a yoga centre, and detained her there, to coax her to end her marriage. She said the ‘Guruji’ at the centre had threatened her that if she went with Rinto, she would be killed. She was not allowed to contact anyone.

For 22 days

She was forced to do the daily chores of the centre. She had been confined to the centre for 22 days.

She sought a detailed investigation into the criminal activities of the centre and the ‘torture’ of the residents there. The affidavit was filed in a habeas corpus case filed by Rinto. When the petition came up for hearing, the court asked to file a petition seeking to implead the yoga trust in the case and posted the case to Tuesday.