A few days back, Karnataka’s Chitradurga had witnessed protest after the Lingayat seer had returned to Lingayat mutt. The protesters had demanded strict action against the accused seer.
Bengaluru: Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, who has been facing sexual assault charge, was arrested by Karnataka police of Thursday. The seer’s arrest was made amid growing demand to take action after the allegation of sexual assault against him. Shivamurthy’s aide, however, said he surrendered before the police.
A few days back, Karnataka’s Chitradurga had witnessed protest after the Lingayat seer had returned to Lingayat mutt. The protesters had demanded strict action against the accused seer. The Karnataka police had detained him in an alleged sexual assault case involving minors.
A complaint of sexual assault was lodged at Mysuru police by two minor girls following which an FIR was registered against the seer. The police filed FIR under various sections of POCSO Act. He was later detained by the police.
Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, after returning to the mutt, had said that he got courage from those who came in his support. He told people not to fear. He also said to respect the law.
People of Chitradurga had staged protests in the area demanding strict action against the accused seer. The protesters alleged that local police and administration are not taking proper action against him. They said that no concrete action has been taken yet despite completing medical tests of the victims.
According to the report, the victims are students of a school run by the Lingayat mutt. They both had approached an NGO and had narrated their ordeal. The matter was reported to the police. Based on the complaint, police had filed an FIR. The police have registered a case against five persons including the warden of the mutt’s hostel.
As per the report, the girls are minor in age and were living in the hostel under the Murugha mutt. They were been sexually harassed for more than three years.
