Belagavi, 25 May  

Tensions flared in Belagavi’s Mekhali village of Raybag taluk after villagers vandalised the Ram Mandir Mutt following the arrest of its priest, Lokeshwar Swamy, for raping a minor girl, the daughter of a devo-tee.

According to police, Swamy was arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and kid-napping charges at Mudalagi police station and has been remanded to judicial custody. Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled confirmed that the incident took place in lodges at Bagalkot and Raichur, and the lodge owners will be interrogated after a court appeal on Monday.  Police will also visit Chittapur in Kalaburagi, the accused’s native place, for further investigation.

Angry locals stormed the mutt and damaged property after news of the arrest broke. Villagers alleged that Lokeshwar used the mutt forimmoral activities, including witchcraft and gambling. They also claimed he threatened or attacked those who opposed him.

Apart from the Ram Mandir Mutt in Mekhali, Swamy had established another mutt — a Krishna Mutt in Hanjyanatti, Chikodi taluk — where similar allegations of misconduct have surfaced.  Locals accused the swamy of prioritising illegal and immoral acts over religious activities. Despite multiple complaints to authorities in the past, locals say no action was taken. Now, they demand Swamy not be granted bail under any circumstances Police recovered deadly weapons from the mutt.