Nepal’s Boy Buddha frees Slovak hostage

A Slovak woman held captive for three months by followers of Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 22, popular as Nepal’s ‘Buddha Boy’, was released on Sunday night.

Updated on: Mar 28, 2012, 24:40:18 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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A Slovak woman held captive for three months by followers of Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 22, popular as Nepal’s ‘Buddha Boy’, was released on Sunday night.

The woman identified only as Marichi, 35, and another woman from Nepal had been kept inside a jungle in Bara district bordering India for allegedly practicing witchcraft to disrupt Bamjan’s meditation.

Following media reports of their disappearance on Sunday, Bamjan’s followers dropped Marichi at a hotel in Simara in Bara district around 9 pm. There’s no news of the Nepali woman.

Reports say the Slovak woman has a broken arm and is very weak. She told local journalists that she has been asked by Bamjan’s followers not to reveal anything about her ordeal to the media or police.

Police sub-inspector Padam Bahadur Khadka of Simara police station stated further investigations into the long disappearance of the two women are on.

Marichi had arrived in Nepal 11 months ago and stayed in a hotel Simara before shifting to a monastery. She was allegedly whisked away by two youths on a motorcycle on December 28.

The police came to know about the disappearance of the two women last week after a complaint was lodged. On questioning, Bamjan’s followers admitted to keeping them in captivity.

Bamjan had gained worldwide publicity seven years ago after reportedly meditating without food or water for several months—much like Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

His followers claim Bamjan who has been meditating since May 2005 is a reincarnation of Lord Buddha.

Last Thursday, his followers beat up five journalists and took away their cameras while they were filming Bamjan’s sermon. He was also accused of beating up some local residents last year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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