Varur Jain monk takes vow of ‘Sallekhana vratha’, wants govt to promise punishment for killers of Nandi Maharaj

HUBBALLI: Following the brutal murder of Kamakumara Nandi Maharaj of Nandi Parvata Ashram, another Jain monk, Gunadhara Nandi Maharaj of Varur, who was disturbed by the turn of events, has taken a vow to give up food and water until the government gives a written undertaking that it will ensure the strictest punishment for the killers of  Nandi Maharaj of Hirekodi ashram.

Expressing deep sorrow over the murder, he said, “The government should take action against the accused and ensure the safety of Jain monks. No such acts have taken place in the state so far”, and demanded the government to take strict action against the culprits. The Varur Jain monk shed tears, while recalling Nandi Maharaj of Nandi Parvata ashram.

“The government is negligent in ensuring the safety of Jain monks”, the Varur monk said, hitting out at the government and elected representatives. “So I will take ‘Sallekhana vratha’ from today, which means the religious practise of voluntarily fasting to death in Jainism. Appropriate protection should be given to the Jain monks”, he insisted.

The Varur monk said the killers should be punished and added that he will fast until the government gives a written assurance in this regard.

The Jain monk of Nandi Parvata ashram had been missing since July 5. The devotees filed a complaint at the Chikkodi police station about his sudden disappearance. The police arrested two accused on the basis of suspicion and interrogated them. During interrogation, the accused admitted that they killed Nandi Maharaj and said that the body was dumped in a borewell on a farmland in Khatakabavi.

The chopped body pieces of the monk were found 30 feet deep in the borewell after a rigorous searching operation at the incident site. The police have taken up further investigation.