PHIDIM: A man allegedly projected himself as an Avatari Lama and swindled as many as 10 persons of millions in Phidim, it was revealed on Monday.

After locals filed a complaint with police, Tenzing Lama of Bouddha was found to be cheating them into giving him more than 20 tolas of gold and Rs one million, police said.

According to local hotelier Suraj Rumba, Lama had come to his hotel on May 17. He had stayed for almost two weeks and later disappeared with the valuables.

"Lama told us that he was also a fortuneteller and could heal any sickness. He said he had also helped in construction of monasteries in various places," stated Rumba, adding, "So, I had called some people from the Sherpa community to meet him."

Later, Lama went to Nagin VDC from Phidim Bazaar.

He gathered the locals there and started "predicting" their future which somewhat came true and the impressed locals asked him to stay in the VDC for few more days.

According to a victim Laxmi Syangbo, locals believed in him as all claims about various issues of their life were true.

All the persons who came to him to cure there diseases were asked to bring some gold and he would perform some puja on the ornaments.

Another victim Ranji Sherpa said that Lama had asked the locals to open a bank account for the construction of monastery in Phidim.

Lama had not allowed anyone to take pictures saying that might destroy his "transcendental" powers.

The victims meanwhile, filed a complaint against him today, informed DSP Krishna Prasad Koirala.