Sri Lankan monk assaulted in Tiruchi
A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thero, was assaulted by members of Tamil outfits at the Big Temple in Thanjavur, in Tiruchi, India on Saturday.
He was part of a team of students of the Institute of Archaeology of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi, on a study tour.
Later in the day, vans transporting the students to the Tiruchi airport from Thanjavur were pelted with stones resulting in damage to windshields. However, the students escaped unhurt.
In Thanjavur, the students and staff, 19 in total, were going around the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple when a group owing allegiance to the Naam Tamizhar Katchi and the Thamizh Desiya Podhuvudamai Katchi attacked Ven. Gnanaloka Thero, who stood out in the group in his saffron robe.
The students were taken to the ASI office near the temple, but the assailants surrounded the office and demanded that the monk be sent out. The incident sent shock waves among devotees and archakas who were witness to the attack.
Gnanaloka Thero was asked to change his clothes and sent to Tiruchi along with other students with police escort in vans. As the vehicles entered Tiruchi, two cabs transporting the students were targeted near Ariyamangalam and G Corner, where members of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Naam Tamizhar Katchi attacked the vehicles with sticks and stones, police said. The front windshield of one of the vans and the rear one in the other were damaged. However, the students were escorted safely to the airport.
City Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav met the students upon their arrival at the airport. The monk was put on a Chennai-bound flight later in the evening, while the others were accommodated at the airport temporarily.
The students hailed from different countries, including Sri Lanka, China and Thailand and from north India. All of them are studying Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology in New Delhi. Their proposed visit to Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram temples were cancelled following the incident.
Gnanaloka Thero has been staying in New Delhi for the last one-and-half years pursuing the diploma course. The 46-year-old monk, who hails from Colombo, told The Hindu on the phone from the Tiruchi airport that he came to India in 2011 and enrolled himself for the ASI course.
Eleven persons, including A. Nalladurai, State coordinator of the Naam Thamizhar Katchi, and Pazha Rajendran of the Thamizh Desiya Podhuvudamai Katchi, were arrested in Thanjavur, while 10 persons, including MDMK rural district secretary, Tiruchi, were held in Tiruchi in connection with the stone-throwing incident. (The Hindu)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka and United States discuss Economic Support and Reforms April 19, 2024
- Israeli missile strikes Iran amid escalating Middle East tensions April 19, 2024
- President says he will build a Sri Lanka that the youth aspire to April 19, 2024
- NPP presents 7-point pledge on Easter Sunday Attack to Cardinal Ranjith April 18, 2024
- Dialog Axiata to acquire Bharti Airtel’s telecom operations in Sri Lanka April 18, 2024
This calls for the Indian High Commissioner to be summoned and an explanation given ont the safety of Sri Lankans in India.
India is preaching to us and then attacking our people in India…. and India is bringing a Resolution at Geneva too…
fighting each other are same cast in some point of view.well done
If India cannot protect our citizens, we should provide our own security to our citizens in India who are there for legitimate pruposes.
We should also seriously talk to China and Pakistan about the deteriorating law and order situation in India and work out a common strategy.
If Kashmir and Tamil Nadu can be occupied, regional control can be exercised on these areas to liberate the humanity living there from the clutches irresponsible politicians just as we liberated the Tamil speaking SL citizens from the cluthches of the Maha Veera VP.
I am so deeply sorry for this monks!Really its so stupid way indians LTTE supporters activeted.We should respect every religeons and peoples.This uneducated peoples like only violence and they think their right can achive for fighting.
We are condeming the act of these baberians… India should invetsigate and punished them at early stage .
Well, this incident happened to the Sinhala Buddhist monk in a foreign country.
But similar incidents have been happening to me and fellow Tamil speaking citizens in our own country for the past 65 years.
That’s differnce between Sinhala speaking and Tamil speaking citizens of the Republic of Sri Lanka.
this is not ur business not urs MHD
This is a gross violation of human rights of the SL students in India by these Tamil extremist supporters of eelam. To assault a Buddhist monk is utterly contemptible and should be denounced by all the religions in India. As Shenali said the Indian High Commissioner in SL should be called to the Foreign Ministry and demanded an apology and promise of protection for SL tourists in Chennai, as these intimidation and violence against SL tourists have deteriorated even further.
The Indian fishermen are deliberately making forays into SL waters and robbing our fishermen of their livelihood, while Indian navy does F–all to prevent it. It is a pity that these culprits are released with their trawlers so easily by the SL govt after all the trouble and expense of the SL navy to seize them. Why is the SL govt not taking a hardline on India over this issue and give in so easily to demands for their release with no penalties such as hefty fines and confiscation their trawlers and fishing gear?
Metro!!why not’?
Lokayama deka ganna antawadi Demala Kalli Karana Aparada Weda, Janadipati tumani Mewa Gena Maha Anduwa Samaga Sakachcha Karanna
Swiss woman ‘gang-raped’ in central India…this is India and tamil tigers..they are the worst barbarian..and they are coming to teach us Human rights..metro is a tamil tiger..
come with me face to face.
i will kiling one by one
Well, Wake up Sri Lankans! What you are seeing is what is it like when the central government devolve the power unnecessarily. This is what India is trying to impose on Sri Lanka (13th amendment). That is why Indian central government has now become a hostage of Tamilnadu loonies. When you vote for those who want to implement the 13th amendment forced on SL, think of possible consequences.
Yes Indra…we all have to wake up…you are corect,You see for an ex.Tamil ministers get paid from the Srilankan governtmant, and who send them to UN IN genf to demostrate against the Srilanka.
All buddhist monks should be trained promptly in personal security. I was watching the video clip of this incident and had the bhikku been a karate black belt, those puny tamil funk-sticks would have been scampering for a dear life.
The mob even tried to strip the monk of his robes. Shame on you, LTT remnants in Tamil Nadu.
yes all sri lankans should wake up and keep bending, then it would be very easy.
why not, I wish monks could, even though the monks are well trained in sexual activities, then why not think about the black belt for their personal security?
they can do it.
We, as Sri Lankan, must expose the Indian hospitality and their inaction in regards to law and order issue against Sri Lankan.
Our GoSL is inactive as Indians leep them in that place.
GoSL must issue a travel advisory declaring Tamil Nadu is a DANGEROUS state to visit, before a Sri lankan pay with his/her live.
GoSL must take action in the same way that Indians do against us. Will it happen…NOooooooooooooo!