The Jain community staged a silent protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 17, demanding the death sentence for the accused in the murder of Karnataka monk Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj. Photos: ANI/PTI
The dismembered body parts of a Jain monk were found dumped in a borewell at a village in Belagavi district, Karnataka.
The grisly discovery was made in Chikkodi taluk of the district, leaving the community in mourning. Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj, the victim, hailed from the Nandi Parvat Ashram in Hirekodi village, Belagavi.
Following the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded by forming an investigation team and issuing directions to officials for a thorough probe. Subsequently, the police arrested Narayana Basappa Madi and Hassan Dalayath in connection with the murder of the slain monk.
Members of the Jain community have taken to the streets across Karnataka, demanding justice for the slain monk. Protests were held in Koppal, Belagavi, Chikkodi, Dharwad, and Hassan, where thousands voiced their concerns and called for a fair and thorough investigation. Chikkodi in Belagavi district became a focal point of protests, with demonstrations condemning the "brutal" killing of the monk and demanding justice for the victim. The community also raised concerns about the safety and protection of their minority group.
The Jain community expressed its concern to the National Commission for Minorities, seeking a thorough investigation into the murder and demanding enhanced security for minorities in Karnataka. The community remains steadfast in its quest for justice for Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj. The Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Iqbal Singh Lalpura, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to assign the investigation to a senior officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police, as the NCM believes the murder could be a conspiracy and should be probed at the highest level.
ADVERTISEMENT
