Harassed by occult practitioner, woman consumes poison

Ghaziabad, Oct 23 : A woman consumed poison Thursday following alleged exploitation and sexual harassment by an occult practitioner at whose office she worked as a receptionist, police said. The occult practitioner has been arrested.

Sarika, 34, was brought to the hospital after she consumed poison following constant harassment and exploitation at the hands of occult practitioner Usman Khan, the police said.

The doctors attending to Sarika stated that her condition is critical.

Sarika stated in her complaint that she had been living separately from her husband Sonu Jain at Shyam Park in Sahibabad area of Ghaziabad with her two children for the last one year.

Sarika complained that ever since she joined Khan's office five months back as a receptionist, he did not pay her any salary.

She alleged that he also abused and harassed her sexually and tried to establish sexual relations when she asked him for money.

"He also threatened to kill me when I asked for my salary," Sarika said.

Sarika consumed poison Thursday morning after which she was admitted to the hospital.

The Sahibabad Police have arrested Khan from his Arthala centre in Ghaziabad. A case is yet to be registered against him.

"We are looking into the complaints of the woman. Action will be taken against the culprit," a senior official at Sahibabad Police Station said.

--IANS