By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter
Thiruvananthapuram: In what could be termed as a major push back to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kerala, the Travancore Devaswom Board has submitted a report in the Kerala High Court stating that no permission has been granted to the Sangh to conduct drills or ‘Shakha’ in temple premises.
The ombudsman of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), one of the four autonomous bodies that manage nearly 3,000 temples in the state, submitted on June 4 the report in the wake of the reports of illegal arms training in Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple in Kollam district, local media reported.
A complaint was lodged with the High Court here alleging that arms training is being conducted in the temple. TDB’s ombudsman Justice R Bhaskaran informed the court that steps have been taken to end the training in the temple. “No kind of permission has been granted to the Sangh,” his report said.
Krishna Kumar at hospital bed (Courtesy: Media One TV)
The media reports added that Bhaskaran said the police was reluctant to take action though the complaint against the drills by RSS was issued by the administrative officer in charge of the Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple. However, the Ombudsman said presently, there is no training being conducted in the temple.
Earlier, the complaint regarding arms training by RSS in the temple’s premises, was filed by one Krishna Kumar, a local Democratic Youth Front of India activist, to the Ombudsman alleging no action is taken to stop the training. The complaint also alleged that the temple was used for storing arms.
The vice-president of the committee is allegedly involved in the murder of Kadavur Jayan, a former RSS leader, who was hacked to the death, allegedly, by RSS activists in February 2012.While he was killed, Jayan was the leading functionary of the temple and police said he was killed by another group of RSS, which was exerting to take over the authority of the temple.
Following his complaints against the RSS, Devaswom Ombudsman Justice R Bhaskaran had filed a report before the Kerala high court stating that he has received complaints against RSS regarding misuse of the temple premises.
The court, on December 10, 2014, had initiated suo motu proceedings on the basis of the report and issued notices to the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Temple Advisory Committee.
Following his complaint, Krishna Kumar was attacked allegedly by RSS workers and was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.
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Two Kerala temples issued HC notice for alleged arms training at premises