Amma attacker is mentally ill: father

[Guest guest]

Khaleej Times Online <http://www.khaleejtimes.com/index00.asp> >> News

>> SUBCONTINENT

<http://www.khaleejtimes.com/detect.asp?section=subcontinent&col=>

Amma attacker is mentally ill: father

From T.K. Devasia (Our correspondent)

 

23 August 2005

 

TRIVANDRUM -- Kerala police have framed a case of attempt to murder

against 47-year-old Pavithran, who made a vain attempt to attack

spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) at her ashram in Quilon on

Sunday despite his father producing medical records showing that he was

under treatment for mental ailment.

 

Karungapally circle inspector D. Rajagopal, who is leading the

investigation, said the police had registered a case under section 307

of Indian Penal Code since the accused had tried to pounce on to the

spiritual leader while she led the Sunday evening bhajans or devotional

songs.

 

He said Pavithran could not harm her as he was stopped by her disciples.

Armed with a knife, the accused had jumped towards the stage where the

spiritual leader was sitting. He attacked three disciples who

overpowered him.

 

However, Pavithran, who was a former inmate of the ashram, claimed that

he had brandished his knife against three disciples after he was

attacked while trying to approach Amma.

 

Pavithran told the police that he was a rubber tapper and had started

carrying a knife with him after he was attacked three years ago. His

father claimed that his son was under medication for mental ailment and

turned violent whenever he did not take his medicines. He said Pavithran

had been visiting the ashram for the last 17 years and he was associated

with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for three years.

 

The police official said that police had not found the explanations

credible. He said they would also need to verify the medical records

before reaching a conclusion. Amma's plea to forgive the accused would

also not influence the investigation.

 

Amma's plea for mercy has also not been taken seriously by her

disciples, who feel that the incident could not be dismissed lightly.

Swamy Dhyana Amrita, a senior member of the Ashram told reporters that

the incident was shrouded in mystery. "It is not easy to accept theories

like the man was mentally unsound. If he was a follower of Amma, why did

he come to the ashram with a knife? Why did he rush to Amma and attack

those who came on his way?" he asked.

 

Amma, who is called the hugging saint, said she expected her followers

to adopt a forget-and-forgive approach. "This person should be forgiven.

We are not interested in making it an issue. I am happy that nothing

untoward has happened", she added.

 

"All those who are born will die one day. The incident should not deter

us. I don't want my followers to create any problem for what had

happened on Sunday", she added.

 

Meanwhile, Pavithran was produced before the magistrate in the evening

and remanded to judicial custody.

 

 

 

--

Be Love,

Egyirba (Berijoy)

http://www.egyirba.net

 

 

-=-=-

.... "There's a deep wound in people-that they have been so cut off from

thesource of their being, their mother, their Earth Mother." ~Francis

Story Talbott II (Medicine Story), WAMPANOAG