Haridwar, July 8: Amid the controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations made at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple and Badrinath’s Shri Badrinath Temple, Parmarth Niketan President Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Jain monk Acharya Lokesh Muni on Wednesday urged for the implementation of strict rules so that such allegations are not repeated.

Speaking to media, Swami Chidanand Saraswati cautioned against the spread of rumours which “hurt people’s religious sentiments”.

“I would like to say that no one should spread such rumours. If there has been any mistake, there are proper channels to address it. People should go and discuss the matter through the appropriate means instead of coming directly to the media and misleading the public,” he said.

The Parmarth Niketan President added: “If rules are broken, they can be formed again but once faith is broken, it is very difficult to restore. It is a good step that the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chairman Hemant Dwivedi immediately constituted an inquiry committee. I have also come to know that the committee’s secretary Pramod Nautiya has been dismissed. This is a fast action taken by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government.”

Swami Chidanand Saraswati also urged for implementation of strict rules for temples, terming it “mandatory to sustain the faith of devotees”.

“SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) should be made and followed so that people are able to maintain their faith on temples,” he said.

Jain spiritual leader Acharya Lokesh Muni said that where there are large institutions, such incidents can happen but “it cannot be allowed to continue”.

“Our country has laws, the Constitution, and a proper system of governance. Wherever such an incident occurs at any place of faith, it should not be tolerated. Proper arrangements must be made to prevent such incidents, and if one has occurred, the stolen property or money should also be recovered and strict action should be taken against those guilty,” he told media.

The Jain spiritual leader also said: “Measures should be taken that such incidents are never repeated. Lord Ram is the soul of this country, so if thefts take place at the Ram Temple, it hurts the sentiments of devotees.”

Lokesh Muni expressed confidence that the stolen donations from Ram Temple will be recovered, guilty will be punished and that the government along with the Temple Trust will take measures to prevent repetition of such acts.

Bengaluru, July 8: A 12-year-old student of a residential school in Bengaluru died under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday, prompting allegations of assault by teachers and protests by his family members and relatives.

The deceased has been identified as Gurukiran, a Class 6 student at the prominent school located in Kadayarappanahalli village in Bengaluru North Taluk. He was the son of Raghavendra, a resident of Subedarpalya.

According to the school management, Gurukiran collapsed while jogging on the school campus early in the morning. School authorities informed his parents over the phone around 6 a.m., stating that he had fallen ill and had been shifted to a hospital. However, by the time the parents reached the hospital, the boy had died.

The bereaved family has alleged that Gurukiran was physically assaulted by teachers using iron rods and sticks, and claimed that the pressure exerted on him at the residential school led to his death.

Speaking to reporters, Gurukiran’s father, Raghavendra, said, “My son was admitted to this school when he was studying in Class 5. The school claims that he collapsed while jogging this morning. But when we reached the hospital, we found him dead. I suspect something happened inside the school. The teachers might have assaulted him or done something to him.”

He further alleged that another student informed the family that Gurukiran had been beaten with an iron rod while staying in the hostel. “We have been told that the physical education teacher assaulted him. The police are protecting the teacher,” he alleged.

Raghavendra said his son had never complained about any harassment or assault at the school. “He never shared any complaints with us. What could happen to a child studying in Class 6? I strongly suspect he was assaulted. The school called us at around 6 a.m., saying he had collapsed while jogging and that his pulse rate had dropped,” he said.

Following the incident, Gurukiran’s parents and relatives gathered outside the residential school and staged a protest against the management. They alleged that the boy had been beaten with sticks and iron rods and demanded a thorough investigation.

Personnel from the Bagalur Police Station rushed to the school and attempted to pacify the agitated family members and relatives.

Another relative, Yashasvini, alleged that the family was initially not allowed to see Gurukiran’s body after reaching the hospital.

“When we reached the hospital, we were not allowed to see the child’s body. We later learned that the school staff had taken him to another hospital. We don’t know what actually happened. When we asked the management for the CCTV footage, they claimed that the cameras were damaged and the footage was unavailable,” she said.

Questioning the school’s version, she added, “If he suffered a heart attack, there should have been some signs. They have not provided any proper explanation and are simply saying that he collapsed while jogging. He was perfectly healthy. During the summer vacation, he spent time with us and never had any health issues. He was never hospitalised before. How are we supposed to believe this?”

The family also questioned the school’s claim that Gurukiran completed two rounds of jogging before collapsing during the third one. They alleged that the management failed to provide CCTV footage from either the jogging area or the room where he was reportedly taken after collapsing.

“They are saying the CCTV footage is unavailable because the cameras were damaged. We found that the CCTV cameras had been removed and the wires had been cut. We suspect foul play. Other students have also told us that children are beaten in the school,” a relative alleged.

Tension prevailed at the school as angry parents allegedly assaulted the physical education teacher in the presence of police personnel. The police intervened and managed to rescue the teacher from the agitated crowd.

Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of Gurukiran’s death. Further investigation is underway.

When contacted, the phone went unanswered at the residential school. The school is yet to react to the allegations.

Guwahati, July 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the accused in the recent road rage incident in Guwahati has been arrested and clarified that the individual has no association with the BJP.

The Chief Minister’s statement came amid social media posts claiming that the accused was a BJP youth leader after a video of the alleged assault surfaced online and triggered widespread outrage.

“The accused has been arrested and is not associated with the BJP,” Sarma said in a post on social media platform X.

Reiterating the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents, the Chief Minister asserted that strict legal action would be taken against anyone involved in acts of violence on public roads.

“Road rage has no place in Assam. Anyone who indulges in such acts will face the full force of the law,” Sarma added.

The clarification came after several social media users, including public commentators, shared a dashcam video purportedly showing a confrontation between two motorists in Guwahati.

The video allegedly captured a car owner being assaulted following an altercation on the road, prompting calls for immediate action against the accused.

The incident sparked a political debate after claims circulated online that the accused was linked to the ruling BJP.

However, the Chief Minister dismissed those allegations, stating that the accused was not affiliated with the party. Police have already arrested the accused in connection with the incident. However, officials are yet to release detailed information regarding the charges invoked or the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

The viral video has generated widespread public concern over incidents of aggressive driving and road rage in urban areas. Netizens and civil society members have urged authorities to ensure swift prosecution of those responsible and to strengthen enforcement against violent behaviour on the roads.

The Assam government has repeatedly maintained that law and order violations will be dealt with firmly irrespective of the background or affiliation of those involved.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, and police are expected to record statements of witnesses and examine the video footage as part of the probe.