Mysterious death of Shiroor seer must be investigated
Swamijis of various mutts are in news for all wrong reasons now. Raghaveshwara Swamiji of Ramachandrapura Mutt faced rape charges and had to attend court in connection with that. The court finally ruled the swamiji had ‘illicit and immoral’ relationship with the survivor. Yet, he continues to be in the chair. Babas and self-declared godmen in North India are being jailed one after another over sex related charges. Mutts that had to be centres of spirituality and philosophy are becoming centres of politics, controversy, with even rape charges included. People have begun to view these places with suspicion.
The cultural centre of South India, Udupi, is no different from the rest. The difference of opinion between the head seers of eight mathas known as ‘ashta matha’ is very evident since long. Now, looks like this difference of opinion may have caused a death of one of the popular swamijis. Shiroor sri has died under mysterious circumstances. Doctors have confirmed the presence of poison in his body, and even consumption of food laced with poison.
Some allege that sri Lakshmivara Teertha didn’t die an accidental death; instead he was systematically eliminated. And there are many reasons to believe so too. Many a times, fights had transpired between all the eight mathas (referred to as Ashta Mathas). It could be that of a swamiji crossing the seas, one more swamiji loaning money to someone and then having threatened the man who’d taken money with life, etc. Pejawar seer going on a fast during the Paryaya festival of Puttige Swamiji so on and so forth.
Despite being a Brahmin mutt of a particular community, the bouquet of mutts often got into trouble with its pratices and rituals. But then, the mutts always projected themselves as hindu mutts. However, they could never follow a uniform hindu tradition at their places. Shiroor Lakshmivara Swamiji was responsible for the recent tiffs in the mutts. He had become some sort of an embarrassment for his fellows and devotees. Because Shiroor Sri led a very democratic life shunning most practices of the mutt. He spoke like a rational and like those who would have caused a positive revolution in the country. Alshmivara Teertha was interested in music, sports and other aspects too. He would mix freely with the people and involve them in mutt practices as well.
At the same time, he was also questioning the ways and means of politics and illegal happenings in the mutt. He had even spoken about making a foray into politics. He had expressed his desire to electoral politics too. Udupi swamijis have always shown their inclination towards politics. But Pejawar seer was never seen identifying with any particular party. But his influence is of very high order. He has openly supported Ram Janma Bhumi issue.
Shiroor Sri Lakshmivara Swamiji did not have this kind of diplomatic finesse in his approach towards politics. He did not have the ‘craftsmanship’ of Pejawar seer. He had even said “ All swamijis in Ashta Mathas, including me, have children” in a video that went viral on social media. With this, all the swamijis had faced embarrassing moments. The incident of main god had forced him to say most undiplomatic things against the other swamijis. He had said “If I do not get Pattada Devaru, I will move the courts against six yathis.” Not just this, he had even threatened to expose the illegal transactions of Udupi mutts. He had said “Pejawar seer has gun man. But the one who is facing life threat is me. Hence I need protection too,” he had said. In the very few days after he expressed that he didn’t feel safe, he had died of poisoning. If he didn’t get Pattada Devaru, he would have ensured that he somehow got the idol sooner or later. He would have exposed all the irregularities happening in the mutt complex, had he lived for some more time. He was a live landmine that would have claimed massive collateral damage. He was a threat for people around him too, including industrialists and politicians.
Hence this death has to be investigated. Doctors have already said traces of poison are found in his body. Swamiji never consumed meat. He was a pure vegetarian. He wouldn’t even eat out. How can the food prepared in mutt turn into poison? A complaint has also been registered on the death case in the police station. Pejawar seer’s name also figures in the list of Shirur Seer’s enemies. Hence it is Pejawar seer’s need too that the cause of the death be established. All the swamijis of the mutt have to press for an enquiry of Shirur Swamiji’s death. If they remain silent, they would be proving some of the doubts right with their silence and give rise to more rumours regarding this death.
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Mangaluru: Young woman from West Bengal found unwell near Netravati river, Gang rape suspected
Mangaluru: A young woman from West Bengal was reportedly found in a severely ill condition by locals late Wednesday night near Ranipur, on the banks of Nethravathi river, leading to suspicions of gang rape.
The woman has been admitted to a private hospital in Derlakatte. The police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.
Reports suggest that three people including a rickshaw driver allegedly gang-raped the victim. The police have reportedly taken the rickshaw driver into custody based on suspicion.
It has been alleged that a group of young individuals brought the young woman to a house near the banks of the Netravati river in Ranipur and committed the crime.
The young woman, native of West Bengal, had come to Mangaluru with a friend in search of employment, and was living in Uppala, Kerala. She ventured out alone at midnight and reportedly sought help from an auto-rickshaw driver she met. It is learned that the driver, under the pretext of offering assistance, allowed her to board his vehicle, administered drugs to her, and then committed the crime along with his accomplices.
The young woman, who was severely injured, knocked on the door of a local resident's house late at night. She collapsed and fell unconscious after asking for water. The family promptly alerted the police.
Upon receiving the information, the police rushed to the spot and immediately admitted the young woman to the hospital. Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal later visited the scene.
