Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
J
ain Monk Acharya Sri Kamakumara Nandi Maharaj, who had been missing for two days from his ashram in Karnataka’s Belagavi district,was murdered and his dismembered body parts were recovered from a borewell in Chikkodi taluk,officials said on Saturday. Two people have been detained in the case,they added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has formed an investigation team and issued directives to officials to conduct a thorough probe into the case.
The monk,who used to stay at Nandi Parvata Jain Basadi for the past 15 years,was reported missing since Thursday.
On July 6,manager of the Basadi Bheemappa Ugare lodged a complaint about the missing Jain Muni.We started investigation and detained two people in connection with the case,”a senior officer told reporters.
He further said Investigations have revealed that the Muni,who belongs to the Digambar sect of Jainism, used to lend money.
“Prima facie it appears that the monk was murdered for money related matter,” the official added.
Reports says The monk was killed due to his demand for loan repayment.
The accused,identified as Narayana Basappa Madi and Hassan Dalayath,have allegedly confessed to the crime and have said they dismembered the body and disposed of it by throwing the pieces into the tube well.
The report further said that shortly after the accused’s earlier claim,they changed their statement and stated they had “wrapped the body in a cloth and disposed of it in a river.”
The main accused in the murder was a worker in the ashram, as per the report.
SDRF personnel and local police are conducting a search for the deceased body in the village fields.
Superintendent of Police (SP)Dr.Sanjeev M Patil stated that they have searched multiple areas as indicated by the accused.
Access to the search operation site has been restricted for the public and media.SP Patil set up a camp at the location and a forensic team were also present at the search site, it said.
The dismembered body parts were later discovered in a well located in Chikkodi taluk of the district.
Expressing shock over the death,Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has directed the police officials to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that the culprits are punished by the court.
In a statement, Siddaramaiah said merciless action should be taken against the accused.
In a statement,CM Siddaramaiah called for swift and severe action against the accused.No one is permitted to take the law into their hands.
Our officers have intensified their investigation and some people have been taken into custody. I have given directions that none of the accused should escape,” the statement read.
Meanwhile The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka on Sunday demanded a thorough investigation into the blood curdling murder of a Digambar Jain monk in Chikkodi in Belagavi.
The monk,Acharya Sri Kamakumara Nandi Maharaj, was cut into pieces and his body was dumped in a defunct borewell in village Hirekodi of Chikkodi Taluk.
Police have already arrested two people Narayana Basappa Madi and Hassan Dalayath in this connection. They said the murder was committed over money matters.
BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel on Sunday condemned the incident and demanded a thorough investigation covering all aspects related to the crime.
Kateel also appealed to state government to provide security to the monks and saints of the state.
The government should take this case seriously and ensure that the culprits are booked,” Kateel said in a statement.
BJP spokesperson and MLC N Ravi Kumar appealed to the government to investigate the case properly as there were possibilities of involvement of more people in the crime.
Meanwhile, the last rites of the Jain muni were performed as per Jain traditions on Sunday at Hirekodi village.
