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News Topical, Digital Desk : A bulldozer was used on a monastery in Raibag area of Belgaum district of Karnataka today. On the orders of the Tehsildar of Raibag, this monastery of Lokeshwar Swami in Mekhli village was razed to the ground on Thursday. It is worth mentioning that three days ago, the police arrested the head of this monastery, 30-year-old Lokeshwar Swami, on the charge of raping a minor girl. After this, on Thursday, bulldozer action was taken on the monastery on the charge of government occupation of the monastery.
Lokeshwar Swami arrested under POCSO Act
This month, the family of a 17-year-old girl sent her to Lokeshwar Swami in the name of curing her illness, but later the girl told in a complaint to the police that Swami took her to two different cities nearby and raped her in a hotel. On the basis of this complaint, the police arrested Lokeshwar Swami three days ago under the POCSO Act.
Allegations of occupation of government land
Even before this rape incident came to light, this Swami was accused of occupying government land and building a monastery on it. The Tehsildar had sent notices thrice in the last 6 months and ordered to vacate the monastery. Investigation so far has revealed that 7 years ago, Swami had started the work of the monastery by putting up a shed on this land. Later, he gradually expanded it and built a big monastery illegally.
Outrage against the monastery
The Raibag taluk administration issued a final notice to vacate the monastery 7 days ago but no initiative was taken by the monastery management to vacate the monastery. After this, the administration bulldozed the monastery early this morning. After the arrest of Swami, the villagers also expressed anger against the monastery. Early in the morning, the Raibag Tehsildar arrived with JCB machines to demolish the monastery. The monastery was evacuated under tight police security and supervision of officials and then a bulldozer was run on the monastery.
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