Yogaguru' held for raping US tourist aftertantric massage' in Goa

February 8, 2017

Mapusa, Feb 8: Pernem police on Wednesday arrested a yoga teacher on charges of allegedly raping a US national on the pretext of giving her a 'tantric massage' in the remote village of Korgao, away from the coastal belt of Pernem in north Goa.

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Pernem police said the US national lodged a complaint on Tuesday, alleging that the accused yoga teacher, Pratik Kumar Agarwal, 38, committed the offence on the pretext of giving her a tantric massage at Korgao on February 2.

The survivor complained to police that the yoga teacher allegedly sexually assaulted and molested her. She further alleged that the accused had also committed a similar act with another foreign national, a Canadian woman. "The tourist arrived in Goa on January 31 to attend a seven-day yoga teacher's training course with the accused yoga teacher. She came across the course which was advertised on a website and had registered for it online. The course package included stay and meals. The woman came to Goa, along with a group of seven persons from other countries," a police officer said.

The accused yoga teacher had set up his centre in two houses in Korgao, which he had taken on rent. The survivor was staying at the same yoga centre. The yoga teacher first conducted a group session with all participants. The alleged incident occured later during a one-on-one session with the survivor, police said.

Pernem police have registered the offence under Sections 376 and 354 A of IPC, and have arrested the accused. The survivor was sent to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, for a medical examination, while her statements and that of her Canadian friend have been recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC before the judicial magistrate first class, Pernem. The Canadian woman has also alleged that she was molested by the accused yoga teacher.

The survivor is scheduled to leave Goa on February 12. The accused, who was residing in Siolim, Bardez, has been remanded to eight days police custody. "We have recorded statements of the other students attending the yoga training and they have not mentioned about any such incident," said a police officer. PI Rahul Parab is investigating the case.

This is the second such incident reported in Pernem. In December 2013, a non-resident Indian was arrested by Pernem police for allegedly raping a German woman at a yoga centre in Mandrem, another coastal village in Pernem taluka.

Comments

Ahmed K.C.
 - 
Thursday, 9 Feb 2017

what is the meaning of Tantrik Massage? He might have meant Yantrik Massage. She misunderstood him.

shaji
 - 
Thursday, 9 Feb 2017

Ache din of Feku babas like feku leader. Its unfortunate that people trust these dhongi babas.

DJ
 - 
Thursday, 9 Feb 2017

Feku babas rocking now a days

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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