Tiruvannamalai Sadhus Face Police Scrutiny in Assault Case

Quick Summary

• Tiruvannamalai District Police conducted surprise checks on sadhus along the 14 km Girivalam path near Arunachaleswara temple to find banned substances like ganja and gutka.
• The crackdown follows the July arrest of Kishore, a 38-year-old sadhu, charged with sexual assault and possession of approximately 150 grams of ganja.
• Police revealed that Kishore sourced ganja from andhra Pradesh for sale to locals and tourists. Previous instances of sadhus being booked for similar offenses have been noted.
• The initiative received praise from P. Bhaskan,secretary of Tiruvannamalai All Traders’ Association,who emphasized the need for monitoring due to increasing tourist activity in the area.
• Around 300 sadhus currently stay near Girivalam path at shelters provided by NGOs or by the temple; most are from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra pradesh, or Karnataka.
• In 2022, police began fingerprinting and photographing sadhus in Tiruvannamalai to create a criminal database via NAFIS (National Automated Fingerprints Identification System). Plans were also made to issue unique QR-code identity cards.

Read more: The Hindu

Indian Opinion Analysis

The police action highlights growing concerns over criminal activities linked with some individuals among the sadhu community in Tiruvannamalai-a prominent spiritual hub frequented by thousands annually for religious purposes and tourism alike. While such incidents risk tarnishing the reputation of genuine spiritual seekers contributing positively to local culture and heritage, proactive measures like systematic databasing through NAFIS reflect an intent toward long-term prevention rather than episodic enforcement.

given that these checks stem from escalating safety issues associated with banned substances and reported crimes against devotees-especially involving tourists-the initiative signals authorities’ recognition of evolving challenges faced in balancing customary practices alongside modern security imperatives in bustling pilgrimage centers. Careful implementation must ensure impartial policing without negatively affecting legitimate practitioners adhering sincerely to their faith traditions.

Read more: The Hindu