Ashutosh Brahmachari, who had filed an FIR alleging sexual harassment of young disciples against Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, was attacked on a moving train on Sunday morning.
According to Ashutosh Brahmachari, he was travelling from Ghaziabad to Prayagraj on the Rewa Express and was seated in the First AC coach. Around 5 am, near Sirathu railway station, an unidentified attacker allegedly attempted to slit his nose with a sharp weapon and repeatedly struck his face and hand, leaving him seriously injured and bleeding heavily.
Ashutosh Brahmachari said he managed to escape from the attacker and locked himself inside the train’s toilet to protect himself. From there, he contacted the Government Railway Police (GRP) and informed them about the incident.
Based on his complaint, the GRP has registered an FIR and initiated an investigation into the attack.
Allegations Linked To Earlier Complaint
In his complaint, Ashutosh Brahmachari alleged that the attack was linked to the FIR he had filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his disciple Mukundanand in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor disciple.
He claimed that Swami Avimukteshwaranand, Mukundanand, and two others, identified as Prakash Upadhyay and Arvind, had conspired to have his nose cut. According to the complaint, Dinesh Sharma, a resident of Dhana Govardha in Mathura district, had allegedly announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for carrying out the attack.
The incident reportedly occurred when the train was passing between Fatehpur and Kaushambi districts near Sirathu station.
Shankaracharya Rejects Allegations
Responding to the claims, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand dismissed the allegations as fabricated. He said the claims were being made to create an atmosphere and gain security, while also drawing media attention.
He further described the accusations as an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing journey. After the attack, Ashutosh Brahmachari’s clothes were reportedly soaked in blood, and he sustained multiple injuries before managing to alert authorities.
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