FIR against saffron leaders for vandalising Ravana’s idol in Bisrakh

A day after demon king Ravana’s idol was vandalised in Bisrakh village, police on Wednesday registered an FIR against five identified and 25 unidentified people.

On Tuesday, police said the idol was vandalised allegedly by a group of young men wearing saffron scarves.

The idol was supposed to be installed at a temple in the village that is being renovated. Bisrakh is the birthplace of Ravana and he is worshipped here.

Following a complaint from temple priest Acharya Ashokanandan, police registered a case against Gau Raksha Hindu Dal’s president Ved Nagar, Dudheshwarnath Math’s Juna Akhara’s international minister Mahant Narayangiri, International Hindu Sena’s president Krishna Giri, Kalka Temple’s (Delhi) priest Surender Nath and two others, apart from 25 unidentified men.

Read: Greater Noida - Ravana idol in Bisrakh temple vandalised

To maintain law and order in the village, security arrangements have were made at the temple.

“A team was deployed at the temple for precautionary measures. The village is calm. The case is being investigated. Further action will be taken after the probe,” said Rakesh, deputy superintendent of police (circle officer 3), Greater Noida.

Meanwhile, priest Acharya Ashokanandan on Wednesday called a meeting of villagers to discuss the issue. About 30 locals attended the meeting and decided to inaugurate the renovated temple without Ravana’s idol on Thursday.

“The Ravana’s idol was vandalised. It was decided that we will not place the same idol at the temple. We will place another idol after some time. There is a temple of Ravana in the village since time immemorial and the resident offer prayers there. Such an incident has never occurred before,” said Ashokanandan, priest of the temple.

Repeated attempts to contact Mahant Narayangiri were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off. Gau Raksha Dal’s chief Ved Nagar, however, denied his involvement in the incident.

“The FIR against me is politically motivated. I have no role in vandalising the idol,” he said.

Read: Greater Noida: On Dussehra, Bisrakh will mourn Ravana