Palghar : 2 Sadhus and their driver lynched while Police watch

Left extremists and separatists inciting the villagers : Vishwa Hindu Parishad

Mumbai – In a shocking incident, 2 Sadhus and their driver were lynched to death by a 200-strong mob in Palghar District of Maharashtra on 16^th April night. The Sadhus have been identified as Swami Kalpavriksha Giri Ji (Age 70) & Swami Sushil Giri Ji (Age 35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade, residents of the Kandivali suburb of Mumbai.

The Sadhus were travelling from Mumbai to Gujarat to attend the funeral of their Guru Sri Mahant Ramgiri when their vehicle was stopped on the Dabhadi-Khanvel Road by a mob of around 200 tribals.

The Police claim that the tribals suspected the saffron-clad Sadhus and their driver to be ‘child-lifters’, and started beating them up. A forest department employee informed the Police and a Police team reached the spot. It appears Police took the 3 men into their custody and placed them in their jeep. But what happened subsequently is difficult to digest.

In the extremely disturbing video footage, the elderly Sadhu, already bleeding from the head, can be seen coming out of a roadside house clinging on to the arm of a Policeman. A few people surround the Sadhu and start beating him – he desperately tries to hold on to the Policeman’s arm and pleads with him, but the cop brushes him off and steps away. There are at least 5-6 other Policemen seen in the footage, but none came forward to save the elderly Sadhu or to try and control the mob. A group of 6-7 attackers keep beating the 70-year-old Sadhu till he collapses and sits on the ground. But they don’t stop and keep hitting him with sticks till he lies prone on the ground, unconscious.

Later, the mob can also be seen brutally attacking the other victims who are seated in the Police jeep.

The Sadhus belonged to the revered Sri Panch Dashanam Juna Akhara. This Varanasi-centred ‘Juna Akhara’ is considered by many to be the largest and oldest order of Sadhus in India. The Juna Akhara has written to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, alleging Police inaction while the 3 victims were being brutally assaulted. They have questioned why the Police did not fire to disperse the murderous mob. They have also stated that Rs. 50,000 and temple ornaments were looted from the Sadhus.

Palghar Police said they have arrested 110 people including 9 juveniles for the lynching. An enquiry has been initiated into the incident. However, many observers believe that such a brutal attack in the presence of Police needs a deeper probe by a national agency like CBI. (Read Editorial)