A police team raided the ashram of controversial spiritual leader Ram Bahadur Bomjan in Kamalamai Municipality, Sindhuli, on Thursday.

Bomjan is wanted by the authorities for the disappearances of four of his disciples. On Thursday, a joint team from the Central Investigation Bureau, the Bagmati Provincial Police and the district police offices in Kavre, Sindhupalchok and Sarlahi raided his ashram in Pairey, but could not locate him.

Around 150 security personnel sealed off the ashram spread over 42 bighas of land and combed the area, but they could not find Bomjan anywhere.

“We have sealed the ashram area and searched for him in all possible places, but could not find him,” said a police officer involved in the operation.

According to him, two sniffer dogs were also employed in the search.

Police had raided the same ashram in January last year and arrested two of Bomjan’s followers for investigation.

The authorities have been keeping a close watch on all ashrams run by Bomjan and his followers after the reports about the disappearances of Sancha Lal Waiba and three others.

Bomjan has gone out of contact after the families of the missing persons lodged complaints with the police.

Bomjan had shot to fame in 2005 for allegedly meditating for months without food, water or sleep. He had bee dubbed the “Buddha Boy” by the media.

After emerging from his meditation he and his followers have set up ashrams in Bara, Sarlahi, Sindhupalchok and Sindhuli districts.

Meanwhile, the Bodhi Dharma Shrawan Sangh, the organisation founded by Bomjan, have accused the police of torturing and harassing them in the name of conducting their investigation. The organization has claimed that Bomjan has been meditating at an undisclosed location for the past three years.