Bangalore: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is unhurt and safe after an unidentified man opened fire on his car near Bangalore on Sunday evening.
A disciple was injured and the gunman escaped after the firing at around 6 pm near Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ashram at Kanakapura Road on the outskirts of the city.
Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya confirmed that the spiritual leader’s car had been fired at but refused to comment further. “I am waiting for more details. He is safe,” said Acharya about the spiritual leader.
“I won't speculate on who is behind it,” the minister told CNN-IBN. Acharya said he had visited the ashram on Sunday morning and had “no prior information” (warning) about a possible attack on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
"He is one of our very important social leaders. He is a social reformer also," said Acharya, adding that security at the ashram will be stepped up.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar spoke to CNN-IBN hours after the incident and said that he was safe. “I am fine. There is nothing to worry,” he said.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he continued with his programme after the attack and attended meetings. He said he could not say who the gunman was but insisted there was “no chance” that it could be one of his devotees.
According to a press statement issued by the Art of Living International Centre, the gunman opened fire as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar left after delivering a discourse at his ashram.
"While leaving from public satsang (discourse) this evening in Bangalore, an unidentified gunman shot at Sri Sri's convoy. It hit one the devotee's thigh, causing a minor injury," the statement said.
Swami Sadyojatha, director of international affairs of the Art of Living Foundation, told CNN-IBN he was inside in the car when it was shot at but couldn’t comment who was to blame for the attack. Sadyojatha said the injured disciple, Vinay, was discharged from a hospital after treatment.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation. The NGO and its international counterpart -- the International Association for Human Values -- are involved in relief work and rural development across the globe.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also a strong advocate of yoga as a tool to ward of stress and also solve societal problems. The foundation also runs several schools, Ayurvedic research centres and art schools.
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