Thera returns safely to Delhi

The Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, harassed in Tamil Nadu, returned to New Delhi safely, the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi said in a release yesterday.

The release said a group of persons attempted to assault Ven Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thera while he was on a study tour at the Thanjavur Hindu Temple on Saturday.

The release added: "Ven Gnanaloka Thera who is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology of India has been studying in India in New Delhi for the past 18 months and has visited several Indian states on study tour.

"At the time of the attack, Ven Gnanaloka Thera had been with a group of 18 students comprising Indian, Myanmar and other nationals. Ven Gananloka Thera had not suffered any physical injury as a result of the attack.

However, several Indian students who accompanied him had received injuries as a result of the attack, in their efforts to protect the priest.

"Ven Gnanaloka Thero and the other students had been escorted to immediate safety at the Police Station by the Police and arrangements had been made for all the students including Ven Gnanaloka Thera to leave Thanjavur immediately and depart to the Trichy Airport under police protection.

"The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioners Office in Chennai and the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi made immediate arrangements for the safe return of Ven Gnanaloka Thera to New Delhi on Sunday. The thera will continue with the course of study in New Delhi."

The incident has received immediate attention at the highest levels of the Government of India and the state government of Tamil Nadu.

Police have registered a case in Ariyamangalam and have arrested 5 persons belonging to the MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and the NTK (Naam Tamilar Katchi) in connection with the incident.