41 girls rescued from Rohini ashram, claims DCW

New Delhi: After a three-day long search operation at an ashram in Rohini District, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Thursday claimed to have rescued 41 girls, with the Commission's chief Swati Maliwal saying that the condition of the ashram "was very dangerous and pathetic."

The DCW chief said that in the course of the three-day operation, conducted by DCW, Child Welfare Committee and Delhi Police, 41 girls were rescued from the ashram 'Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya', run by self-styled godman Baba Virender Dev Dikshit.

These girls will now be counseled, their ages verified and their parents contacted.

Briefing the media on Thursday, Maliwal said, "This place needs to be shut and this 'baba' should be arrested," adding that locals in the area had earlier filed a complaint about the ashram.

"Virender Dev Dikshit, who claims himself to be godman, should be arrested immediately," Maliwal added.

She further said they that rescued girls were not in a condition to talk.

Earlier, in a series of tweets, Maliwal had expressed her shock at the ashram operating without any fear of law for such a long time.

"Can't understand how is this ashram in Rohini called 'Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya'? Have they been recognised by UGC to call themselves a University? They don't have any documentation of who stays here, where they came from, what they do and they call themselves a University?" she tweeted.

"So called Baba Virender Dikshit should immediately be arrested by CBI. All his locations across India should be raided. If this man could manage so much in the Capital, God knows what all illegal activities are ongoing in rest of the country!" she futher tweeted.

In her latest tweet, the DCW chief said, "High Court summoned Baba Virender Dev Dikshit. It is only through the efforts of the High Court that such a huge operation could be possible. Remaining 150 girls are also below 30 and should be removed from the Ashram. CBI should imm arrest this farzi Baba and seal this place!"