The car used by Sri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejavar Math, Udupi, and two Tempo Travellers used by his disciples were attacked by unidentified miscreants in the city in the early hours of Monday.
However, there was nobody in these vehicles as the Swamiji had gone to the house of one of his disciples in Sadashiv Nagar in the city in another car, leaving his car in front of the Krishna Mutt. His disciples were resting at the Mutt and in the adjacent Vidyarathi Nilaya on RPD College Road under Tilakwadi Police Station limits when the incident occurred.
The Swamiji is in the city since Sunday night on a three-day paryaya sanchar, which commenced on Monday.
With the disciples and the local hosts of the Swamji obliging to the police request not to inform the media about the incident, it did not come to light immediately but on Tuesday afternoon.
Reliable sources close to the Swamiji siad some miscreants pelted stones at the car and Tempo Travellers parked in front of Krishna Mutt at around 2-30 a.m. on Monday. The vehicles suffered minor damages to the windows.
After receipt of the information about the incident, the police requested the disciples of the Swamiji to maintain calm and not to inform the media.
Subsequently, they said they would take the vehicles and get it repaired. Accordingly, the police took the vehicles and returned after getting them repaired. They also produced a bill for about Rs.4,000 as charges for repair and collected it, sources said, adding that no complaint was registered in connection with the incident.
A “shobha yatra” was taken out on Monday evening, which remained incident free.
Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji ignored the attack on his car and two Tempo Travellers. Asked if he suspected the hand of those questioning his campaign against cow slaughter, he said the incident could have been handiwork of some miscreants and not Muslims. He said many Muslims hold him in high esteem and accorded warm reception during his ‘paryaya sanchar.’
He said various Islamic organisations invite him to participate in their programmes. Recently, he participated in one such programme where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was present: “I don’t think Muslims have done this, nobody should apply communal colour to such petty incidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Tilakwadi police have taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and registered a case and looking out for the miscreants.
