Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Following the death of Mahant Narendra Giri under suspicious circumstances, the matter of killings of saints has arisen once again. So far, over 22 saints have been killed in Uttarakhand and as per reports, property dispute is believed to be the major reason behind the killings. This isn't the first such case wherein a saint has killed himself like this, earlier many saints lost their lives due to property-related disputes.
The saints, who themselves advise people to stay away from worldly treasures, have themselves been caught in the circle of illusion, the living proof of which is being witnessed in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. Here, more than two dozen saints have been killed in the last 20 years. Not just that, there are more than a thousand cases that are going on in different courts of Uttarakhand related to property.
After the formation of Uttarakhand state, the real estate business emerged as a big sector with politicians and mafia having allegedly turned into property dealers. This led to several multi-story buildings having been built on lands provided to ashrams, monasteries and temples.
Earlier, following the murder of Mahant Sudhir Giri, police had arrested two big property dealers from Haridwar after a year. Also, though the involvement of a big saint was alleged, the latter taking advantage of his influence and proximity to the government had pulled himself out of it.
Intellectuals, who have been following the developments for a long time, believe that not only Sudhir Giri, but dozens of saints like him have lost their lives due to the greed of property.
Also read: Mahant Narendra Giri death: Akhara Parishad cries foul, demands CBI enquiry
So far, more than 24 saints have fallen prey to conspiracies in Uttarakhand, which is called Dev Bhoomi. In most cases, these conspiracies have been carried out in collaboration with the mafia. Barring one or two cases, police have not been able to disclose any of them. There is also a suspicion of police officers being allegedly involved in these conspiracies.
Some of the notable murders that took place:
- On 25 October 1991, Sant Raghavacharya, who was out on a walk from the Ramayana Satsang Bhavan was shot and stabbed by unidentified assailants
- On 09 December 1993, Rangacharya, a fellow of Sant Raghavacharya Ashram of Ramayana Satsang Bhawan, was also murdered in Jwalapur
- On 1 February 2000, a member of the trust Girish Chand who was going to court with his partner Ramesh was rammed by a jeep from behind. The police sent Swami Nagendra Brahmachari to jail considering him as the facilitator
- Sadhvi Premanand was murdered following a loot and arson in December 2000, while Baba Sutendra Bengali was assassinated on 5th April 2001
- On 6 June 2001, four sadhus including Baba Vishnugiri were killed in Harki Paidi
- On 26 June 2001, another Baba Brahmanand was killed and Baba Brahmdas of Panap Dev Kutiya was shot dead in broad daylight.
- Also, Baba Haryananda and his disciples were assassinated on 17 August 2002. Another saint, Narendra Das, too was murdered.
- Eminent Saint Premanand alias Bhole Baba of Sangampuri Ashram had gone missing on 06 August 2003. It was on 07 September 2003, that his death was disclosed and the accused Gopal Sharma was caught.
- On 28 December 2004, Saint Yogananda was assassinated and his killers have not been found to date.
- On 15 May 2006, Swami Amritananda of Pili Kothi was murdered.
- On 25 November 2006, a young seer of India Temple was shot dead.
- On 08 February 2008, 7 sadhus of Niranjani Akhara were poisoned on 08 February 2008.
- On 14 April 2012, Asin Mahant Sudhir Giri heading the top post of Nirwani Akhara was assassinated.
- On 26 June 2012, a triple murder case shook the entire Uttarakhand administration. Late at night, three saints were killed at a Hanuman temple in Laksar, Haridwar.
In this manner, several other saints were also killed in connection with land-related disputes.
Also read: ABAP President Mahant Narendra Giri death case: Disciple Anand Giri taken into police custody
