Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 25: Shivacharya Nirvanarudra Pashupathinath Maharaj (33), an ascetic hailing from Karnataka, has been murdered by miscreants in Nanded district, Maharashtra. His disciple, Bhagawan Shindhe, was also murdered.

This incident comes close on the heels of murdering three Sadhus in a shrine at Palghar on April 16.

The Swamiji had set up a Lingayat Math at Umri, Nanded, and settled there, sources said.

The miscreants eliminated Shindhe before proceeding to the bedroom of the Swamiji inside the Ashram. After killing the Swamiji, they tried to shift the body elsewhere in a car. As the car dashed against the gate of the Ashram, they seem to have developed cold feet. They abandoned the mortal remains at the Ashram before fleeing, said district superintendent of police, Vijay Kumar.

After the murder, the miscreants took away cash and valuables from the Ashram. Kumar said that the murders happened with the motive of theft. Relating to the case, a person identified as Sainath Lingade has been arrested and being questioned, sources said.

The SP said that prima facie this murder does not appear to have been backed by communal hatred or religious bigotry. However, investigation will bring out the truth, he added.