KALABURGI, 3 MARCH

The head of the Shankaralingeshwar Sansthan Hiremath in Udachana village, Shantaliga Shivacharya, has gone missing following a drunken driving incident on 8 January in the neighbouring Indi taluk. Witnesses reported that he crashed his vehicle and was later found wandering the streets of Salotagi village in a dishevelled state. Despite paying a fine for the accident, the incident was largely ignored until now.

Upon returning to the monastery that night, Shivacharya faced confrontation from local villagers, who expressed their dismay at his behaviour. He promised to address their concerns the following morning but fled before dawn, locking the monastery and taking with him money, jewellery, and essential school documents. Reports suggest he is currently hiding in a remote location while still managing school activities, allegedly involving himself in illegal appointments and bribe-taking.

Village leaders have called for Shivacharya’s immediate arrest and the reopening of the monastery. Gaddeppa Maitre, a local leader, stated, "His actions have severely damaged the dignity of our monastery." Another leader, Ramesh Poojari, condemned the disgrace and demanded the swift appointment of a new head for the monastery.

Prominent villagers, including Shankara Linga Maitre and Veerabhadra Gamane, joined the discussion, emphasising the historical significance of the monastery and the urgent need for a return to respectful leadership. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Shivacharya may still be in Salotagi, reportedly relying on local support.