Rajkot (Gujarat), Jan 3, 2013: A controversy over ownership of a religious site on Mount Girnar in Junagadh town saw a Hindu sadhu allegedly stabbing a Jain monk on Tuesday.
Police sources said victim Prabalsagarji Maharaj of Udaipur in Rajasthan was taken to a private hospital for the treatment as he had received serious injuries on chest and abdomen. Accused Muktanand Giri was arrested by the police after a case was registered against him at Junagadh taluka police station.
Sources said Giri stabbed Prabalsagarji with a knife when the latter arrived at Kamalkund. The stabbing followed a heated exchange of words between them.
Paramedical staff of 108 emergency services had to climb 3,500 steps at Mount Girnar to bring the Jain monk down for treatment. A large number of Jain community members reached the spot after hearing about the incident.
The controversy over a piece of land has been going on for several years. While Hindus say the place is devoted to Lord Dattatreya, Jains believe it to be the spot where Tirthankara Lord Neminath attained Nirvana.
Superintendent of police Dipanker Trivedi said the injured Jain monk is out of danger. “In order to avoid such incidents in future, we have posted five policemen at the spot and one sub-inspector at Ambaji point on Mount Girnar. An SRP bandobast is already in place since 2005,” he said. – News Courtesy: Times of India