7 hurt in clash over ashram in Shimla, two FIRs lodged

Seven persons, including police personnel, sustained injuries as a clash erupted between members of the Ramakrishna Mission and the Bramho Samaj here on Saturday evening over a disputed ashram and adjacent land.

Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said two FIRs had been registered in this connection and several persons involved in the incident identified. “Further investigation is underway,” he said.

The incident occurred when devotees from the Bramho Samaj reached the mission ashram near the Vidhan Sabha for the aarti. “Several persons, posing as devotees, reached the temple for the aarti. When we asked them to leave the temple after the aarti as we wanted to close the temple, they started raising slogans and arguing,” said Swami Tanmahimananda, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission ashram.

The arguments soon led to a clash in which stones and sticks were used. “The Bramho Samaj had given the temple to the mission in 2014 for religious purposes, but today its members created a ruckus in the temple,” said Swami Tanmahimananda.

According to the police, some people arrived with stones and started throwing these at the temple. “Some university and colleges students were also involved in the incident,” said the SP.

MR Sangroli, trustee, Himalaya Bramho Samaj, said the violence was not instigated by their members. “The temple belongs to the Bramho Samaj. Its members went to the temple and when they were offering prayers, members of the mission started taunting them and instigated the violence,” he claimed.

According to him, a case over the ownership of the temple is pending in the court.