Date:18/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051860050900.htm

National

Bhadrananda threatens to shoot himself

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Special Arrangement

Himaval Maheshwara Bhadrananda threatening to shoot himself, at the office of the Circle Inspector of Police, in Aluva on Saturday.

KOCHI: Himaval Maheshwara Bhadrananda, who was arrested by the Ernakulam Central Police on Friday and released on bail, threatened to shoot himself at the Aluva Circle Inspector’s office on Saturday morning.

When the police tried to overpower him, the gun went off, injuring Bhadrananda and a reporter of Madhyamam. Bhadrananda had surrendered to the police on Friday after he was charged with barging into a newspaper office in Kochi and threatening its staff for publishing a report against him. He was also charged with using a car fitted with an unauthorised red beacon lamp.

Saturday’s sequence of events began at 7.30 a.m. at his house when he reportedly telephoned a reporter of a television news channel and threatened to kill himself. “He claimed that the media had tarnished his image by publishing adverse reports and comparing him with Santosh Madhavan — a self-styled godman who was arrested earlier this week,” the reporter said. Bhadrananda was also agitated as he had been asked by his landlord to vacate the rented house in Aluva where he was staying with his mother.

The reporter informed the police who arrived at his house and tried to persuade him to hand over the pistol. When he refused, he was taken to the CI office.

Senior officers, including Aluva Dy.SP P.N. Unnirajan, arrived at the spot.

Meanwhile, journalists who had arrived at the police station were enraged that only one reporter was allowed into the office.

As they protested, Bhadrananda advanced towards them and suddenly his pistol went off, firing two shots.

He was first taken to Karothukuzhy Hospital, Aluva, to have an X-ray of his injured hand taken and then shifted to the Aluva Government Hospital. He has been charged with attempt to commit suicide and attempt to murder.

Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police M. Padmanabhan said there were six bullets in the Indian-made .32 calibre pistol. The police officer said the pistol went off when the police tried to disarm him.