Nepal probes ‘Buddha boy’ over allegations of sexual assault, violence and missing devotees

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Nepal probes ‘Buddha boy’ over allegations of sexual assault, violence and missing devotees

Police are investigating a spiritual leader hailed as the reincarnation of Buddha after several of his followers were reported missing.

AFP, Staff writer

News Corp Australia NetworkJANUARY 8, 201912:51AM

In a picture from 2005, 15-year-old Ram Bahadur Bomjan “Buddha Boy” meditates under a tree in Nepal. He is now under investigation by police. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

A Nepali spiritual leader believed by his followers to be a reincarnation of Buddha is under investigation over the disappearance of several devotees, police in Kathmandu said on Monday.

Ram Bahadur Bomjan, dubbed “Buddha Boy”, became famous in 2005 after followers said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep in Nepal’s jungles.

The 28-year-old guru has a devout following but has been accused of physically and sexually assaulting some of his flock.

Special police investigators have begun inquiries after the families of four of Bomjan’s devotees allegedly vanished from his ashrams.

Nepali spiritual leader Ram Bahadur Bomjan, dubbed "Buddha Boy", is believed by his followers to be a reincarnation of Buddha. Picture: Pankaj Shrestha/AFPSource:AFP

“The police have started investigating these complaints against Bomjan,” Uma Prasad Chaturbedi, a spokesman for Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau, told AFP.

“The investigation is in preliminary stage and we cannot share many details.”

Bomjan has long been dogged by accusations of abuse in deeply spiritual Nepal, even as thousands of worshippers queued for days to witness his so-called miracles of meditation deep in the jungle.

In September last year, an 18-year-old nun accused the guru of raping her at one of his ashrams.

Dozens more have filed complaints against him alleging assault. The self-styled godman said he beat them for disturbing his meditation.

The Bodhi Shrawan Dharma Sangha, an organisation associated with the guru, recently slammed as baseless a series of fresh allegations made by a local website, Setopati.com, which published reports detailing cases of disappearances, sexual assault and violence in his ashrams.

The Darjeeling Chronicle reported last month that Bomjon was far from a practiser of the tenets of Buddhism.

Bomjon identifies himself with the “Next Buddha” Maitreya and his followers claim he plans to unite the world through Maitri religion, language and culture. Picture: Facebook/MaitreyaSource:Supplied

According to a disciple who worked for him at the ashram, Bomjon consumes the Himalayan fungus yarsagumba to boost his sex drive.

“He consumes yarsagumba to boost his libido. I myself have mixed yarsagumba solution and given it to him to drink,” the disciple claimed. “Guru’s mobile phone is full of porn videos. I have also watched some of them when he used to give it to me for recharging,” another disciple confided.