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
whatever going on in the Dargah is against the teaching of islam and definately Allah hates this. Its unfortunate that people of fighting for power and unnecesary things. They are giving importance to not required customs which are not advised in islam. Few people are running dargah as business to make money. Its unfortunate that common people are getting fooled.
It is responsibility of waqf board and local MLA to bring peace in Ullal before some one get killed.
Let all elected representative sit together elect one as president who has majority.
It is easy job but some unseen hands playing behind the scene.
I request UTK to show the leadership before some one get killed.Just he need to do is tell both fraction that those who get majority will be president.
health minister's city became unhealthy goon's city
whats going on, fighting with own people this must be stopped immediately, it makes our rival to go out strong.
There is no difference between dargah and temple. Both make pooja by offering flower etc. Both make jathre(Uroos). Both make nerche (Harake). In islam no where taught like this. This fight is only for money.
koora and SSF's Dirty Game
fighting for dargha's authority, it defines u,
Add new comment