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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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
