Meet to discuss seer's ouster turns violent

A meeting organised by Akhila Karnataka Havyaka Okkuta here on Sunday, to demand the removal of  Raghaveshwara Bharathi as the pontiff of the Ramachandrapur Mutt, witnessed a clash between two groups of the Havyaka community.

A group of Havyaka leaders sought the seer’s ouster on the ground that he had indulged in an “immoral relationship” with Ramakatha singer Premalatha. They said though the court had acquitted the seer of the rape charge, it was evident that he had an immoral affair with the woman. He has no moral right to continue, they said.

Another group of the community, which supported the seer, gathered outside the venue – the auditorium of Brahmins’ Association – even before the meeting commenced. They had sought police permission to attend the meeting, but the cops turned down their request apprehending violence.
However, the organisers faced the wrath of the seer’s supporters who barged into the meeting venue carrying brooms and footwear. Two persons were injured in the clash. The Havyaka leaders, however, went ahead with the meeting and this led to heated arguments between the two groups. When the situation went out of control, the police resorted to mild caning to disperse the crowd.

Assistant Commissioner Satishkumar D M, Tahsildar N T Dharmoji Rao and DySP Nisha Jamesh arrived at the venue and pacified the warring groups.
DH News Service