Police probe into stray bullet ends speculation: Ravi Shankar

BANGALORE - The Karnataka Police has put an end to speculation behind the firing incident May 30 by tracing the stray bullet to a gun owned and fired by a farm owner, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said late Saturday.

“We are satisfied with the police investigation. They have put an end to all sorts of speculations and stories.” Ravi Shankar said in a statement from his ashram on Kanakapura Road, around 25 km from the city.

Earlier in the day, state Director General of Police (DGP) Ajay Kumar Singh told reporters that farm owner Mahadev Prasad had fired two rounds from his .32 revolver to scare away stray dogs but one the bullets went off track and injured Vinay Kumar a devotee of Ravi Shankar.

“Let us forget this one bullet. There are many more bullets being fired in the Red Corridor. We want a peaceful resolution to the biggest problem that the country is facing,” Ravi Shankar said, alluding to the spate of violence and mayhem unleashed by Maoists in some of the northern states.

Refuting the charge that the incident was enacted to get Z class security for him, Ravi Shankar said though he was entitled to it, he did not want it as it would restrict him from his devotees and the people.

“I dismiss this (charge) because although I am entitled to it, I do not want it as it will restrict me. People also said that this was our publicity stunt. I don’t need this kind of cheap publicity,” Ravi Shankar, who has millions of followers in India and overseas, asserted.

Denying that there were internal feuds in his 28-year-old global spiritual organisation, the AoL founder said people of all castes, including Dalits as well as Brahmins and all nationalities live together in his sprawling ashram, which was an example of international integration.

Recalling his interaction with 17 Maoists visiting his ashram Friday, Ravi Shankar said he had advised them and their top brass to accept the olive branch Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had offered for talks.

“I have requested them to go with the message of peace and find a new light for our country,” Ravi Shankar noted.