Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, an umbrella body of Hindu seers has declared it will initiate a nationwide protest if the government continues to fail in providing adequate security to the community in the wake of rising number of murders of saints and seers recently reported in the country.
Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, the general secretary of the samithi in a meeting of seers from nationwide held in Varanasi on Monday emphasised the need for a strict security for the seer community.
Patalpuri Matt's mahant Baba Balakdas Maharaj, who spoke in the event accused the Naxals for allegedly carrying out perpetual attacks on seers and Mahant Jagdishwar Das Maharaj of Noida stated they had the support of seers from Dehi and NCR for the agitation.
Two sadhus and their driver who were travelling on April 16 this year from Mumbai to Gujarat's Surat to attend a funeral were allegedly murdered on their way by a mob in the presence of police from a village in Palghar town of Maharashtra. Following this event on October 7 and October 11 respectively, a priest was allegedly set afire in Karauli, Rajasthan and another priest attacked in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.