Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Police quizzes Buddha Boy over thrashing locals

PATHALAIYA/ KATHMANDU: Police on Monday interrogated Ram Bahadur Bomjan, famously known as Buddha Boy, in connection with the thrashing of local villagers by him for trying to disrupt his penance on Thursday.

A squad of police, led by inspectors Rudrakanta Jha and Bhesh Raj Rijal from Bara District Police Office visited Bamjan in Halkhoriya forest, Bara, following complaints registered against him by a group of 17 vilagers.

Talking to the police, Bomjan admitted to having thrashed the villagers. "Yes, I took a minor action against them because they tried to disturb me while I was meditating," he said.

Refuting the victims' claimthat they mistakenly stepped into Bomjan's meditating site while searching wild vegetables, Bomjan said, “They came to this area just to disrupt my meditation."

Bomjan also admitted that he had taken the villagers into his control for 24 hours. “I had to do so personally because I did not have anyone around to punish them," he said.

Though Bamjan claimed he only used hands while thrashing, the villagers have said he had thrashed them with a handle of an axe continuously for three hours.

Also Bomjan said he would not come to the court for trial. "Do you think a meditating sage will go to the court to hear a case?" he exclaimed.

"I took action against them as per the divine law," he added.

Bamjan also refuted the allegation that he punished the locals for animal sacrifice, during Gadhimai festival. “The Gadhimai issue has nothing to do with this incident,” he said.

Bamjan, who is seen with reverence for his spiritual quest, has been lobbying against the mass animal sacrifice, touted as the world’s biggest.

He had given his word to stop the animal sacrifice ritual that last took place in November 2009, but finally did not show up.

Meanwhile, Bed Bahadur Thing, chairman of Tapoban Forest Conservation Committee, said that they beat up the locals for their attitude towards Bamjan.

Manoj Neupane, Deputy Superintendent of Police in the district, asserted no one is supposed to be above the law of the land.

The police would investigate the case and take action if required, Neupane added.

Bamjan, revered by many as a reincarnation of Lord Buddha, came to a wider public attention in 2005 when he was first spotted in jungle.

It is claimed he could meditate motionless for months without taking food and water.

He, aged 18, embarked on six years of penance in jungle on May the same year.

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Police+quizzes+Buddha+Boy+over+thrashing+locals&NewsID=251193

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