Gates fixed at Panchamasali Peetha at Kudala Sangama and locked, but seer has no idea who did it

Unidentified persons locked up the gate of the Panchamasali Peetha, the headquarters of Sri Basava Jaymrutyunjaya Swamy, in Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district of Karnataka on July 13 night.

Iron gates have been put in the front, back and on the way to the staircase, and they have been locked.

But, the seer, who is touring Vijayapura district, said he had no idea who did it, or why.

There was a dispute between the seer and Vijayananda Kashappanavar, MLA and chairman of the All India Lingayat Panchamasali Trust. There was talk of setting up an alternative religious centre for the Panchamasali community in Kudala Sangama.

There was speculation that the trust put up the gates to lock out the seer, who was travelling.

Mr. Kashappanavar told reporters in Hungund that he had instructed the trust to lock up the premises as a security measure. “A locked gate will prevent nuisance inside the math premises. I am the president of the trust, and the security of the premises is my responsibility. I cannot ask the seer to lock the gates. We have done it for security. There is no other purpose,” he said.

Another group of devotees led by former minister Murugesh Nirani had set up another centre for the Panchamasali community in Harihar. The centre is headed by Sri Vachanananda Swami.