Nanded, May 24: In a sensational incident, a Lingayat seer from Karnataka was found murdered in his mutt in the Nanded district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra on Sunday.
The seer, who was strangled to death, has been identified as Shivacharya Nirvanarudra Pashupatinath Maharaj, the founder-spiritual head of Nirvanji Pashupatinath Mutt.
Addressing media persons, Nanded Superintendent of Police Vijaykumar Magar, the prime suspect, Sainath Langote first killed his accomplice Bhagwan Shinde and then went to the ashram late on Saturday.
He entered Shivaharya Maharaj's bedroom where he was resting and threw chilli powder in his eyes, blinding him.
Then he quickly grabbed cash of Rs 69,000, his laptop and other valuables in the bedroom worth approximately Rs.1.50 lakh, besides the seer's car keys.
As Shivacharya Maharaj attempted to grapple with him, Langote pinned him down and strangled him, then dragged his body to the sadhu's car parked outside and dumped it into the boot.
"He started the car and sped off towards the road outside, but the car crashed into the main gate of the ashram creating a noise, alerting the other sevaks sleeping inside the ashram," Magar said.
Around 8-10 other ashram sevaks rushed outside to check the ruckus and when they saw their seer's belongings and his body in the car trunck, they attempted to stop Langote, but he gave them the slip.
A short distance away, Langote managed to steal a motorbike and sped off into the darkness and hours later, the police found the body of his accomplice Shinde from a nearby school premises, Magar said.
In view of the sensitivity of the incident, Magar said around five crack teams were formed which fanned out into the district and managed to catch Langote this afternoon.
"The prima facie motive for the seer's murder was clearly robbery and the second killing could be due to rivalry or some differences among them. The absconder suspect has been caught by a police team. We will interrogate him and get further details of the crime," Magar said.
Nanded Congress strongman and PWD Minister Ashok Chavan appealed that the murder should not be politicized, since the police investigations are underway and the autopsy report is awaited.
He said the deceased sadhu belonged to the Lingayat caste, and both Shinde and Langote who belonged to the same community were his followers.
Shivacharya Maharaj had come to Nanded over a decade ago and set up the ashram which he ran along with a band of followers.
Comments
SDPI ... No news.. Congress would have come with more seats if SDPI would Not contested.. last year they won few seats... i don't think they have not doing good job.. that's why lost seats preferably they should not be contesting for communal forces to win the election .. HOPE YOU LEARNT LESSON AND AVOID ELECTION SDPI
Shradha,
JNU row in DK? hahahahahahah.
What a connection you made. You may not be knowing overall Karnataka who is leading?
saleem na thigaldakutta
congress paid lots of money to the voters otherwise clean sweep.
historic victory for bjp, congress started downfall.
Siddaramaiah will lose his post soon, at the end ONLY wrist watch will remain for him,
congress da thigaldakatta
Outstanding performance by BJP - Mandate is against Congress.
Bjp has won 13 District Panchayats in Karnataka.I congratulate Bjp Team Karnataka for this spectacular victory. sorry for congress
what a bastion that BJP has just not being able to break. Not a single seat won in #Karnataka TP/ZP elections
JNU row, cant defeat BJP this is the answer for Truth.
BJP is in majority congress failed all over.
Ministers Like Khader will not lose. congrates khader
people know whom they should elect, the result is congress.
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