Row after six sadhus apply for arms licences ahead of Kumbh Mela; resident deputy collector says each application undergoes detailed threat assessment

Nashik: As Nashik and Trimbakeshwar prepare for the grand spectacle of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, an unexpected debate has surfaced within the ascetic community — six sadhus have sought firearms licences, citing personal safety and the need to protect their ‘akhada’ properties.The development has not only raised eyebrows but also ignited a divide among sadhus, with some defending the decision as practical, while others dubbing it as a troubling departure from spiritual ideals. The Nashik Rural police and district administration, however, clarified that the licences had no connection to the mega religious gathering.Resident deputy collector Rohit Rajput said each application underwent a detailed assessment of threat perception by police teams, who evaluated whether there was a genuine need before submitting a recommendation to the district administration, which took the final decision. “Many applications are rejected for failing to meet the criteria. Firearms licences are not routinely handed out to every applicant. A large number of requests are systematically turned down if they fail to meet the required criteria,” he said.Mahamandaleshwar Swami Someshwaranand Maharaj, defending his application, said his application was regarding Shriram Peeth Ashram in the Beze-Chakore region, which sits along a lonely forest stretch. “We run a gaushala rescuing cattle from illegal smuggling. That alone invites threats. The area is isolated and we have already faced an attack, which was reported to the Trimbak police. A firearm licence is not about power, it is about survival, against both wild animals and anti-social elements,” he said.Echoing this sentiment, Shree Mahant Sudhir Das of Nirvani Akhada said, “We often move with cash and valuables. In such circumstances, personal protection becomes a necessity, not a luxury.”A section of sadhus, however, argued that the very idea of ascetics taking up firearms undermined the ethos of their calling. Shree Mahant Satyagiri Maharaj of the Shree Panch Dashnam Awahan Akhada, who is also overseeing Kumbh Mela arrangements, said these applications were individual decisions, not institutional position. “Our akhada has nothing to do with such moves. Sadhus have always safeguarded their spaces through traditional means and, more importantly, with the support of state security forces,” he said.Mahant Shankaranand Saraswati of the Anand Akhada, who warned of the message this sent to the public. “During the Kumbh Mela, every akhada is under round-the-clock police protection. In such a scenario, seeking firearm licences is unnecessary. It risks portraying the monastic community in a negative light,” he said.