NEW DELHI, Sept 5: Close on the heels of the arrest of Shivamurthy Sharanaru on rape charges last week, another Lingayat seer in Karnataka allegedly committed suicide on Monday for similar reasons.
Basava Siddalinga Swami, seer of Sri Guru Madiwaleshwar Math, was found dead at his mutt in Belagavi district early this morning. Officials said his body was found hanging at his quarters by his followers and attendants.
Police have recovered his purported suicide note and investigation is on to ascertain the cause of his death. The content of the note is not known yet but sources said the seer was reportedly upset over a video in which two women were seen discussing the alleged cases of sexual assault in some mutts in Karnataka and they had also mentioned his name in the video.
Last week, Shivamurthy Sharanaru, who heads the Murugha Math – one of the key Lingayat seminaries in the state, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls. Both girls have accused him of sexually abusing them for years. He was arrested following protests by the civil society members and various organisations at Karnataka’s Chitradurga and Mysuru districts.
(Manas Dasgupta)
