On Sunday night in Neemuch district, three Jain monks—Shailesh Muni Ji, Balbhadra Muni Ji, and Munindra Muni Ji—were attacked while resting at a Hanuman temple near Kachhala village. Around midnight, six assailants, arriving on motorcycles, demanded money and assaulted the monks when they refused. This violent act has incited significant outrage among local residents, prompting protests at the Singoli police station for harsh punishment for the attackers. The BJP’s state media in-charge expressed that the assault was disgraceful.
The police have apprehended one minor and five adults from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, following the incident. The monks were on pilgrimage and had been resting when the assailants, after consuming alcohol, confronted them. One monk escaped to alert villagers, who arrived to assist; however, four attackers fled while two were captured.
Local officials, including the Collector and Superintendent of Police, promptly visited the scene. Though the monks initially declined medical treatment due to their customs, they sought care the next day. The Jain community has called for a shutdown in Singoli, while calls for a thorough investigation have arisen from local leaders amidst assurances of strict action from the government against the attackers.
