Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 6, 2009: Two Indian priests were assaulted by Maoists inside Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple on Friday.
Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta, from the Singeri Mutt in Karnataka were reportedly assaulted because they are Indian and are carrying on an 800-year-old tradition opposed by the Maoists: having Indians, and not Nepalese, as the main priests of the temple.
The Indian priests were assaulted by a group of 40-50 Maoists, who stormed the temple on Friday.
India’s Ambassador to Nepal lodged a strong protest with the Home Minister. He demanded and got more security for all the five Indian priests.
The incident forced the temple authorities to temporarily close the shrine for the public for two days. As it re-opened its doors, hundreds of worshippers queued up to offer prayers.
However, security guards checked each and every devotee to prevent any Maoist infiltration, officials said.