12/14/97 - 1354

ISKCON Girl Devotee Missing

India (VNN) - The Indian newspaper Deccan Chronicle dated Wednesday, October 1, 1997.

ISKCON GIRL DEVOTEE MISSING
from our bureau, Hyderbad, Sept.30:

The City Police have sounded a red alert all over the State after a former head of International Society for Krishna Consciousness allegedly abducted a teenager from the city. Ms Neha Mehta, a first-year degree student and a devotee of ISKCON is said to have been forcibly taken away by Sambadas, former president of ISKCON (Hyderbad), four days back. Ms Neha did not return after she left her home at Boggulakunta on last Thursday.

The Narayanaguda Inspector, Mr. K P Laxmi Naik told Deccan Chronicle that a missing case was booked on September 25 following a complaint by her cousin, Mr. Samir Mehta. The police also flashed radio messages to all the international airports, railway stations and bus stations in Andhra Pradesh and other States.

The police said ISKCON, had recently suspended Samba das from its presidentship for his alleged advances towards Ms Neha. This incident was also reported to the organisation's headquarters in Russia.