By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 31, 2015 : Self-styled Godmen in Odisha are feeling the heat of the public outage forcing the authorities to act against them. After the much hyped Sarathi Baba alias Sarathi Raul, it is now the turn of powerful Sura Baba alias Surendra Mishra, head of Trahi Achyuta Ashram.

Police on Monday arrested Sura Baba, and his two sons after an hour-long interrogation here under various charges and the police was forced to clamp 144 CRPC at Trharhi Achyta Ashram on the outskirts of the state capital.

Sura Baba and his two sons—Biranchi and Trilochan—were arrested at 10.30 AM under the case no 187/2015 registered by the Balipatna police said. Controversial fortune-teller Baba and his two sons – Trilochan and Biranchi Narayan – were sent to Jharpada jail after being produced in the junior magistrate first class (JMFC) court here on Monday evening.

Police have slapped charges against the trio under section 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 294 ( sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC and section 3(I)(x) of the ST and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Besides, charges under Sec 25 of the Arms Act have also been slapped against Sura Baba after the recovery of two air guns and three 9 mm live cartridges from the ashram this morning.
Meanwhile, two women lodged FIRs against the Baba at Balipatna police station accusing him of sexual exploitation of women devotees and abetting a wedge between husband and wife.

In her FIR, the woman has named four associates of the Baba – Tuna, Papu, Aakhila and Saswat – and four women associates – Binapani Ghadei, Dipti Mihanty, Jyotsna Swain and Jyotsna Mohanty – who she said used to coearce her to take classes in Baba’s night classes.

Besides, Balipatna police have also registered another case by a policeman injured in violence by the Baba’s goons during the stand-off yesterday.

Meanwhile, violent protests continued at the Trahi Achyuta for the second day on Monday even after the arrest of Sura and his two sons.

At least 10 policemen, including DCP Satyabrata Bhoi were injured as an angry group of villagers indulged in heavy stone-pelting defying Sec 144. A few media persons assembled at the spot also sustained minor injuries in the brickbatting.

As the violence escalated, additional forces were rushed to the spot, but that did not make much of a difference to the situation. There are 17 platoons of the police near the ashram now, but the angry protesters are showing no signs of retreating.

Commissioner RP Sharma reached the spot in the evening and discussed with village elders ways to put an end to the violence by protesters. A decision was taken at the meeting to form a peace committee with senior citizens of the area as members and to pitch four tents at strategic locations to keep a watch on miscreants.