Calcutta: She dared to raise her voice against sexual assault by Asaram Bapu. Her complaint landed the self-styled godman in jail and led to his conviction but robbed her of the right to an ordinary life.

Her entire family has since been under virtual house arrest, the fear of being attacked by supporters of Asaram lurking every moment.

The girl from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh was 16 when she was raped. He called her to his ashram in Manai near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013, the girl had said in her complaint.

Her family had donated lakhs to the godman's ashram earlier and it was a stab in their trust and belief.

The 20-year-old and her family shared their fears with Metro during a visit to the city on Saturday.

Classes missed

The girl is enrolled in college but cannot attend classes, only managing to write her exams.

Several policemen are posted at the family's home to protect them from any attacks from Asaram's supporters.

"I only go to college to write exams. The college authorities have been co-operative and they let me write exams without attending classes. But none of the students in my college know who I am," said the girl, sitting in a club in Calcutta on Saturday afternoon.

Her younger brother, too, has hardly attended school since 2013. Despite missing classes, he scored 83 per cent in the Class XII board exams. "He wants to join the National Defence Academy. He is preparing for it," said the girl's father.

Shadow of threats

Asaram's supporters threatened a relative of the girl's family soon after Asaram was convicted of rape and jailed for life on April 25.

"Some men visited a relative's house and said they would challenge the conviction in a higher court and threatened that we dare not fight them," said the girl's father. "They can't reach us with police posted outside our house, so they have now started threatening our relatives."

The self-styled godman has such a large following that the trial court delivered its verdict in Jodhpur jail to avoid backlash from his supporters.

Wish for life

The girl and her mother told Metro that they too wanted to go out for dinner or shop like any other family.

But they have been robbed of such simple pleasures. "I haven't even bought vegetables from the local market in the past five years. Either our neighbours or relatives bring us the grocery," said the girl's father.

Often, the family has mulled moving away from their native place in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district for freedom from captivity.

"I am only a high school graduate. I won't get a job at this age and with this education. So to fend for ourselves, I have to keep running my business. Shifting to a new place will not be possible for financial reasons," said the father, now 56.

Career dreams

Feted by many for her bravery, she wants to take the civil services examination and be a police officer. "I want to be an IPS officer," she said with steel in her voice.

She hopes she will have a normal life if she moves to another place where no one knows her. But can't overcome the fear of Asaram's supporters following her.

"We can't expect the police to give her protection everywhere," said her mother.

Financial woes

The five-year-long legal battle involved paying lawyers' fees and travelling to Jodhpur and Delhi, leaving the family sucked of its finances.

"I had a transport business. I owned trucks used for transporting goods. But I have lost everything in fighting this case," said the girl's father.

He had to sell the trucks to raise money for footing the legal expenses.

"Today I am only a broker. I use my own home as a warehouse. Goods are unloaded and kept in my warehouse. Local traders come and take away the goods. I only get a commission for letting them use my warehouse," said the father.

Despite all the hardships, the family is happy that Asaram has been arrested and convicted. "If they move a higher court, we will fight them there too," promised the father.

Social activist and businessman Kamal Gandhi was instrumental in bringing the family to Calcutta to honour the girl. "She is a role model for young women in our country," Gandhi said.