Girl's father ends hunger strike after Asaram's arrest

Bareilly: The father of the 16-year old girl, who has accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assauting her, called off his fast-unto-death in nearby Shahajahanpur district soon after the arrest of the godman in Indore. Circle Officer, City, Rajeswar Singh offered the girl’s father juice to end his fast that he began yesterday morning demanding immediate arrest of Asaram. “The first hurdle has been overcome. We would take our fight forward,” the father said after ending his fast after midnight. He thanked the media saying “the arrest has been made possible because of their efforts”. [caption id=“attachment_1076715” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Asaram Bapu. PTI[/caption] The father of the girl had found support from many teachers, doctors, lawyers, traders and others who also sat on a token hunger strike to show their solidarity. After he ended his fast, the girl’s father was taken to his home amid heavy security. Meanwhile, demonstrations against Asaram were held by Rashtriya Mahila Shakti Dal and others at different places, with protesters burning his effigy. 72-year-old Asaram, who has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting the teenage girl in a Jodhpur ashram, was arrested after midnight in Indore. PTI