TN: Seers held for protest against Nithyananda

THANJAVUR: The Thirupananal Police on Tuesday arrested seven persons including Dharmapuram Aadheenam and Thirupanadal Kasi Mutt seers on charges of instigating violence on Nithyananda’s disciples.On Tuesday, Nithyananda’s disciples Nithya Hamsananda (29), Nithya Brahmananda (31) and a few others from the Madurai Aadheenam visited Kanjanoor temple. Sources said, the disciples and Aadheenam officials asked the temple officials to furnish details of the temple’s properties and financial details, but the officials refused to oblige.As news of the arrival of Nithyananda’s disciples spread, people affiliated to the temple staged a protest inside the temple demanding that the disciples leave the premises.However, Nithyananda’s disciplies lodged a complaint with the police stating that they were attacked by the villagers. They also claimed that they had lost nearly Rs 1 lakh cash and a mobile phone.The disciples then got themselves admitted to the Kumbakonam GH. Based on the complaint, police arrested village assistants Thanga Natarajan, Prabhu, Manikandan, Kasi Murugan.The police also arrested Dharmapuram Aadheenam and Thirupanandal Kasi Mutt Seer and DMK union assistant secretary, Annadurai, for instigating the attack.Subsequently, Kannaiyan, a resident of Kanjanoor filed a complaint with the Thirupanandal police and alleged that he was manhandled and threatened by two unknown disciples of Nithyananda.  The Tirupanandal police has initiated an investigation.Nithyananda, after the anointment as junior pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, had visited Kanjanoor Agneeswarar temple near Kumbakonam. On Saturday, Kanjanoor villagers staged a one-day fast against entry of Nithya-nanda into the temple.