Seer’s murder: Jains take out rallies in Chikodi and Dharwad

Belagavi/Dharwad/Hassan: Thousands of Jains along with other community members took out a silent march in Chikodi town on Monday, condemning the brutal murder of Jain seer Acharya Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj of Nandiparvat Jain Ashram, Hirekodi. Residents of Chikodi, Nippani, Raibag, Athani, Kagawad and Hukkeri taluk and neighbouring Maharashtra devotees participated in the protest and demanded severe punishment for the perpetrators of the Jain seer’s murder. Hundreds of women also took part in the protest. People gathered at the ground of Chikodi RD College and proceeded to the Mini Vidhana Soudha through the bus stand, Mahaveer Circle, NM Road and Basava Circle in a silent rally and submitted a memorandum to the state government through the assistant commissioner. Before submitting the memorandum, Dharmasena Bhattacharya Swamiji of Darur said the seer’s murder was a despicable act. “This should not happen, not only to the Jain sages but also to the seers of any community,” he said. He demanded that the criminals who committed the act should be punished severely. Jina Sena Bhattacharya Swamiji of Nandani, Lakshmisena Bhattacharya Swamiji of Kolhapur, former MLA Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Dr Padmaraj Patil, Veerkumar Patil, Mohan Shah, Vardhamana Sadalge, Ranjit Sangrolle, Anil Sadalge, Basavaprasada Jolle, Raju Khichade, Ravi Hampannavar, NA Magadum, Sanjay Patil, Uttam Patil, Bharatesh Banavane, ST Munnolli among others were present.Protest in DharwadMembers of Jain community took out a procession and staged a demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Dharwad on Monday to protest the killing of Jain seer Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj of Hirekodi in Belagavi district.The procession that started from Kadapa Maidan traversed the main roads in Dharwad before reaching deputy commissioner’s office. Addressing the protesters Jain community leaders Datta Dorel, Shantinath Dibbad, Ajitprasad, MLA Vinay Kulkarni’s wife Shivaleela and others said the killing of thes seer was a brutal act and demanded stringent punishment to the perpetrators of the heinous crime. They said Jainism preaches peace and non-violence and members of the community are living in harmony with all the communities. Jains are minorities among the minorities and attack on the community’s seer has shocked everyone, they said. Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner seeking punishment to the offenders and protection to the monks.In HassanThe members of the Jain community staged a protest condemning the murder of Belagavi-based Acharya Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj, a Jain monk, in Hassan on Monday.People took out a protest march in the city demanding stringent action against the accused. Hundreds of people, including women, participated in the protest. The protest commenced from Doddabasadi and reached the office of the deputy commissioner. The community people marched along the streets holding placards reading ‘Protect Jainism’, ‘Live and let live’. They also raised pro-community slogans.Meanwhile, Abhinava Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami of Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt has written to CM Siddaramaiah demanding protection to the community. He also condemned the murder of the Jain seer. He urged the state government to take action against the murderers. “The murder is a threat to the community. The community pontiffs advocate non-violence and sacrifice. The government must ensure no such incidents will take place in the future,” he said. He also asked the state government to extend protection to the holy places of the Jains.