The Hindu : Front Page : Mata escapes bid on life in Kollam

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Monday, Aug 22, 2005

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Mata escapes bid on life in Kollam

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: There was an attempt on Mata Amritanandamayi's life within the Amritapuri Math complex, near here, at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday. However, the Mata escaped unhurt. One person, identified as Pavithran, 41, has been arrested by the Karunagapally police in connection with the incident.

The police said that Pavithran used to be an inmate of the math and was expelled from the math on Friday.

The incident took place while Mata Amritanandamayi was leading the Sunday evening bhajans from the auditorium of the Math. She was seated on the stage when Pavithran, wrapped in a shawl, suddenly pounced on to the stage from behind and rushed to the Mata whipping out a penknife.

Three disciples of Mata Amritananadamayi who were on the stage leaped forward and stopped him. In the process, two of them, Jitesh and Anil, sustained knife injuries. Soon others rushed in and overpowered Pavithran.

Police said that Pavithran is a native of Ponmani village in Idukki district. He used to work as a tapping worker at a rubber estate and was a regular inmate at the Math. For some reason, he was expelled from the Math on Friday.

On Sunday evening, clad in a white kurta and dhothi, he was seen entering the auditorium for joining the bhajans. He sat behind the stage and as the bhajan progressed, he jumped on to the stage allegedly to stab the Mata. The Karunagapally Police have registered a case and are investigating. Pavithran will be produced in the court on Monday.

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