Jain sadhvi, sevika killed in road accident near Anand

Vadodara/Anand: A Jain sadhvi and her sevika were killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle near Tol village on Tara-Vataman highway in Anand district on Sunday early morning
Sevika Jyotika died on the spot while 50-year-old sadhvi Dakshasha Maharaj succumbed at a hospital in Karamsad-based Shree Krishna Hospital.
The sadhvi, who was wheel-chair bound, and Jyotika had started their journey from temple town Palitana on May 9 and were on their way to a derasar in Chhani area of Vadodara.
The wheelchair-bound sadhvi, who originally belonged to Vadodara, and her sevika were killed in the accident near Tol village on Tarapur-Vataman highway in Anand district at around 5.30am when they were hit by an unidentified vehicle.
The duo was a part of a group of 27 sadhvis, eight monks, three 'diksharthis' and 10 sevaks who had started their journey after attending a 'varshitap parna' ritual from the holy town of Palitana.
After a halt at Indranaj, they started the onward journey towards Vadodara.
As news of the accident spread, community leaders from Anand and Vadodara rushed to the spot. At Karamsad hospital, the community leaders entered into heated argument with police and hospital staff after the sadhvi's body was taken for post-mortem. Some of them even broke the door of the post-mortem room.
"We had already taken the possession of the body. On reaching Borsad cross-roads, we received a call from the hospital that we should bring back the body to complete some formalities and for issuance of a certificate," said Kirtipal Shah from Vadodara.
"Instead of 10 minutes, they conducted the post-mortem for nearly one-and-a-half hour. Our sadhvi maharajas requested the hospital and the police authorities that as per our religion, the body of a sadhvi cannot be touched by any male. Yet, they were not ready to hand-over the body to us," said Shah.
It was only after Vallabh Vidyanagar police reached the spot and intervened that the situation was brought under control.
The community members later performed the final rites of the sadhvi at Wadi Wadi crematorium in Vadodara.
Tarapur police have booked the driver of the unidentified vehicle for culpable homicide and other sections of IPC.