500 policemen are protecting 50 swamis in Karnataka

Nearly 50 swamis in the state are provided police protection, it has been learnt. As many as 500 police personnel are assigned to protect the spiritual leaders, including Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Karnataka is perhaps the only state in the country to have so many swamis requiring police protection.

“We have a long list of seers and swamijis having police security cover. The list is maintained by the VIP security section of the intelligence department, who extends police personnel as personal security officers,” director-general of police Ajai Kumar Singh said on Monday.

“Karnataka has a bigger problem or may be a complicated issue. Almost every community has several religious centres and educational institutions. It is possible that unscrupulous elements may target religious heads to create social tension,” an intelligence official said

Meanwhile, several police officers said Sunday’s incident at the AoL ashram in Kanakapura exposed the fact the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was vulnerable to attack, despite having Y-category security.

An unidentified gunman had opened fire at the ashram in the city outskirts, injuring a disciple.

An officer with the VIP security section said religious heads preferred to have their disciples as security personnel. “The seers detest having policemen keeping watch over them,” he said, adding that the disciples might not be trained on security issues.

“The religious heads detest employing professional bodyguards due to the security-related restrictions they may impose,” he said.