Jains seek joint probe into deaths of Jain monks

Misbah Nayeem Quadri

Amedabad: The death of a number of Jain monks and sadhvis in mysterious road mishaps in the state recently continues to cause concern among Jains. Ashok Jain, a Supreme Court lawyer, suggested during a meeting of the Ahmedabad-based Bharat Jain Mahamandal that the police of the three states -- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra-- should work together to nab the culprits.

The SC lawyer stated that suspects caught in any of the three states should be put to narco-analysis and a lie detection test. He said Indian law prescribes severe punishment for anyone found fanning religious hatred by any means, including websites. Prayer sessions were held at different places in the state for the peace of the soul of the Jain monks and sadhvis who were recently killed in road mishaps.

In Ahmedabad, more than 30 Jain organisations held prayer sessions for the deceased. Four Jain sadhvis died in a road accident near Soneri Patia village in Mahesana district on November 9. Five other sadhvis walking with the deceased escaped with injuries. Three days later, two Jain sadhus were hit by a jeep in Barmer district in Rajasthan.