Protest against visit of Kashi Mutt head

Kochi: The Ernakulam central police on Wednesday took followers of Swami Raghavendra Thirtha into custody for staging a protest against the visit of Swami Samyamindra Thirtha, head of the Kashi Mutt, near TD Temple here. The Ernakulam central police said that around 50 followers were taken into custody for obstructing the public way and unlawful assembly ahead of the visit by Samyamindra Thirtha.
The incident took place around 5.30pm when followers of Raghavendra raised slogans against Samyamindra who arrived here for 'Gurupaduka Prathishta' ceremony of former head of the mutt, Sudhindra Thirtha.
A wanted notice has been issued against Raghavendra, who had gone underground to avoid court orders, by the state police and the special crime branch of CBI, Thiruvananthapuram.
The CBI has also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for those providing information leading to his arrest. Raghavendra, who was earlier associated with Sudhindra Thirtha, had allegedly fled with articles of religious value.