UP woman dies after being tied to pillar for 10 days dies during alleged faith-healing ritual

A 33-year-old woman died after being tied to a pillar for about 10 days as part of a purported faith-healing ritual to treat her alleged mental illness in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, police reported on Wednesday, August 5th.

Police arrested the woman's husband, Ankit Yadav, self-styled godman Munna, 71 and his associate Kadir Ahmad, 55, in connection with the case.

Ruby Yadav, a resident of Lucknow's Gomtinagar, was taken to the Community Health Centre in Deva on Monday after her condition worsened. She was declared dead later that night.

A preliminary investigation found that Ruby had allegedly been tied to a pillar at a shrine in the Deva area for around 10 days while "faith-healing" and exorcism rituals were performed to treat her alleged mental illness, police said.

According to a complaint filed by her father, Pramod Yadav of Sitapur district, the accused kept Ruby restrained for several days during the rituals, following which her condition deteriorated and she died.

Station House Officer Alok Mani Tripathi said the three accused had been arrested and remanded in judicial custody after being produced before a court.

Police said further legal action would depend on the post-mortem report and the outcome of the investigation.