Godman Rampal during his 2018 trial for two murders in Haryana. (image Credit: via Times of India)
An argument over the ideology of a self-styled godman led to the shooting of a prominent BJP leader in the Bhainsoda village of Mandsaur district at a wedding which was taking place at the time, police officials have reported. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devilal Meena was allegedly murdered by Bajrang Dal leader Shailendra Ojha at the wedding, as per media reports.
The deceased had a tussle with the Bajrang Dal leader regarding the presence of followers of 'godman Rampal' at the wedding. The self-proclaimed holy man has a criminal record of life imprisonment without remission in 2018 for murder, wrongful confinement and criminal conspiracy following arrest from his ashram in Haryana. He also had a controversial stance on religion, which involved shunning the main Trinity of Hindu gods, namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
"Members of Rampal's ashram had come to the village on invitation of Meena. Ojha, who is a regional president of Bajrang Dal, opposed it and asked Meena not to allow anti-Hindu activities in the village," said Mandsaur SP Sunil Pandey to the Hindustan Times.
"On Sunday, a large number of villagers opened fire and also attacked the attendees with rods and canes. Meena tried to stop them, but Ojha shot at him. Meena was rushed to a hospital in Kota where he died while undergoing treatment," said Gopal Suryavanshi, town inspector of Bhanpura to HT. "The main accused is still absconding."
A case has been registered against 11 people in total, with four having been arrested.