Seers lynched: Akhara Parishad warns of protest

TNN | Updated: Apr 21, 2020, 11:32 IST

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PRAYAGRAJ: The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) strongly condemned the mob lynching of two Juna Akhara seers in Palghar district of Maharashtra, on Thursday night and threatened to launch a massive agitation if strong action is not taken against the culprits.
ABAP president Mahant Narendra Giri said there is ‘Ravan raj’ in Maharashtra where sadhus are being lynched in presence of police and demanded termination of the cops.
On April 16 night, two seers Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70) and Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were dragged out of their car near a village in Palghar district and beaten to death by a mob that suspected them to be thieves.
“Lakhs of Naga sadhus and members of various akhara would march tor Maharashtra after lockdown if all the guilty are not punished. The Maharashtra government should terminate all the police officers who failed to protect the saints”, said ABAP president Mahant Narendra Giri.
Presently, there is ‘Ravan raj’ in Maharashtra where sadhus are being beaten to death in presence of police, he added.
“The entire area should be sealed and the culprits arrested. The akhara parishad will prepare strategy for the agitation in Haridwar,” Giri said.
Juna akhara chief patron mahant Hari Giri also condemned the brutal killing of saints of his akhara. “There are no words to condemn the killings. The video clearly shows that police failed to protect innocent seers.”
The heads of other akharas also condemned the mob lynching of seers.