Rajkot: A complaint was filed at Bhavnath police station in Junagadh after flags of the Digambar Jain community were allegedly planted on the fourth peak of Mount Girnar, a site considered sacred by the Nath community. The complaint was lodged by Mahant Pir Yogi Somnathji, head priest of the Gangnath Mahadev Temple. Police registered the case under Sections 196(1)(A) (promoting enmity between groups) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unidentified persons dressed in white and others who may be identified during the investigation. According to the complaint, the incident came to light on Thursday, when Somnathji was at his ashram. Around 5pm, a servant, Kaushik Sonpal, informed him that flags of the Digambar Jain community had been hoisted on the peak. The complainant alleged that painting was also carried out at the site, with the words “Jain – 4 Pradyumna Tok” written there. In his FIR, the priest stated that the act was carried out to create discord between the Digambar Jain and Hindu communities. He pointed out that the fourth peak bears the footprints of Oghadnathji and is a revered site of the Nath community. The peak is also classified as a state-protected monument under the Archaeological Department of Gujarat and falls under the trust of Gorakhnathji’s Dalicha. The complaint alleged that the individuals involved premeditatedly brought the flag and hoisted it at the site to provoke communal tension. Police officials said an investigation was initiated to identify the persons involved and to verify the circumstances under which the flag was placed on the peak. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.
