Pune: Gang severely beats, injures students for asking love birds to go away from Bhamchandra Hill, four held

Pune / Khed: A gang of youths have beaten up students affiliated to the Warkari Sampraday (sect) at the pilgrim centre Bhamchandra Hill in Khed taluka. Two students have been injured, a leg of one of them was fractured in the incident.

Four persons have been arrested in this connection.

The students were asking love birds at the hill to go away and not indulge in obscene behaviour at the holy place. The pilgrim centre is associated with Sant Tukaram, who used to meditate and introspect here.

Villagers in the area have condemned the incident and have demanded strict action against the culprits.

Pilgrims and members of the Warkari Sampraday from across Maharashtra visit the holy centre and stay here to study the teachings of great Sants for years. Around 40 students are staying currently at the place.

On Sunday (June 16), a young man and a woman were seen at the hill indulging in obscene behaviour. Kuldip Shivgonda Khot, a student from the centre, asked them to go away. However, the youth became aggressive and abused and beat him up. He again came back with a gang of youths and beat other students also.

Khot fractured his leg in the incident and has been hospitalised while another student was injured. The Bhamchandra Dongar Saptah Samiti has condemned the incident and has demanded strict action against the gang of youths. Such incidents have occurred earlier also, where Romeos and drunkards threatened students from the spiritual centre.

Villagers have become aggressive now and want action against such elements. The students at the Warkari centre are frightened.

Sr PI Nitin Gite attached with the Mahalunge Police station has instructed policeman Prakash Navale and colleagues to investigate further.

QUOTE

“Such incidents should not happen at the pilgrim centre like this. Such violence did not take place earlier. The police and local residents should help check such elements.”

• Shankar Maharaj Marathe, a resident of Bhamchandra spiritual centre