Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Escapes Bid on Life as Man Fires at Car
BANGALORE, May 31 (Agencies): Art of Living (AOL) founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar narrowly escaped a bid on his life when a gunman opened fire on his car soon after a satsang at his sprawling ashram on Kanakapura Road on Sunday evening.
AOL representatives and police told that soon after a satsang at the yagyashaala, a hall in the ashram, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar got into a Toyota Innova. As the van was moving, a man fired a shot. The bullet missed him and hit a devotee in the thigh, causing minor injury.
Ramanagaram deputy superintendent of police Devaraj said: ''One round of ammunition has been recovered. Forensic Science Laboratory officers visited the spot.''
Karnataka home minister V S Acharya confirmed the attack to a news channel. ''I am waiting for more details. He's safe,'' said the minister.
The incident took place around 6.15 pm when Ravishankar was returning to his 'Kutir' by car after addressing a gathering at the 'Satsang', ashram spokesperson Charu said.
"We usually have a satsang from four PM every Sunday till around six where even people from neighbouring villages join us. Sri Sri had addressed those gathered at the Satsang and completed his discourse and was returning to his `kutir' by car when the incident occurred," she said.
Sri Sri Ravishankar, who has a wide following all over the country and abroad, where he has set up centres of his organisation, said he had gone ahead with his discourse even after the incident.
Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya said central range IG Kamal Panth has been sent to the ashram to inquire about the incident. "There is no problem... everything is peaceful there," he said.
The guruji told a TV channel late in the night: "The man fired only one bullet and ran away. He could have fired many rounds. Devotees should maintain calm." He also said that he had not received any threat earlier.
In his message to the followers, he said, "Ahimsa Pratishthayaam Tat Sanidhav Vaira Taygah" (For one who is established in non-violence, all kinds of hostility ceases", spokesperson of the ashram Aswin Nandkumar told PTI.
"The guru has asked his followers not to panic or worry", he said.
On beefing security measures at the ashram, another spokesperson said the spiritual guru generally does not prefer tight security and prefers to mingle and interact with his followers. But after this incident, the issue might have to be looked into, he said.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has popularised 'Sudarshan Kriya', a powerful breathing technique in India and overseas.