Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Updated
Mangalore, Aug 31: Shyamprasad, a resident of Puttur who allegedly shot himself at his residence on Sunday August 31, breathed his last at a private hospital in the city, where he was admitted.
55-year-old Shyamprasad had allegedly shot himself with a country gun.
Sources said that a death note was found in his house, in which he reportedly stated that he was taking the extreme step due to threat calls he received from the Ramachandrapura Math in connection to the sexual harassment case against its spiritual head Raghaveshwara Bharati.
The Puttur police have registered a case under sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC and 66A of the Information Technology Act (sending offensive messages through communication service).
Shyamprasad is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
The body has been shifted to another hospital for post-mortem and the final rites are expected to held on Monday September 1.
Earlier Report
In a fresh development in the case relating to the alleged sexual harassment by Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati of Ramachandrapura Math and his disciples, a relative of the complainant allegedly attempted suicide at his residence in Puttur on Sunday August 31.
Shyamprasad, brother of Diwakar Shastry, whose daughter had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against the Math head, allegedly tried to end his life.
It is learnt that Shyamprasad shot himself in the stomach with a country gun. He was rushed to a private hospital in Mangalore, where he is admitted in ICU. His condition is said to be stable.
Sources said that Shyamprasad had received threat calls over the last few days, which led him to attempt suicide.
Speaking to reporters, Shyamprasad's relative Dr Ganesh Prasad who arrived in the city, said that Shyamprasad was getting calls from the Math telling him not to interfere in the case. "The callers were putting pressure on him to visit the Math and meet the swamiji, and assured that he would be kept out of any trouble. We were just contemplating whether to go there or not, but I never thought he would bow to pressure and take this step," he said.
SP Dr Sharanappa visited the hospital. Speaking to reporters, he said the bullet had pierced Shyamprasad just below his chest on the left side, but his condition is stable. As Shyamprasad has no relatives in the city, more details are not available at the moment, the SP said.
It may be recalled here that Anshumathi Shastri, daughter of Diwakara Shastry and Premalatha, residents of Banashankari in Bangalore, had alleged Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati and his disciples of sexual harassment. Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against the swamiji and others under IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Premalatha had been one of the performers in Ramakatha, a group dance based on mythology, for the last three years, organised by the Math. Diwakara Shastry was closely associated with the Math's administration. Anshumathi had stated in the complaint that her mother Premalatha had said that the swamiji and his disciples had sexually harassed her. They also alleged that his disciples had threatened them against lodging the complaint, and filed a 'false' case against them. Premalatha and Diwakar were later arrested and sent to judicial custody on charges of blackmailing the swamiji to tarnish his image.