Bengaluru police puzzled by Sri Sri attack

Is there more than what meets the eye is something that Bengaluru police officers investigating Sunday's incident at Sri Sri Ravishankar's ashram near the city are trying to ascertain.

Investigations into the alleged shooting that occurred at the ashram, 25 km from Bengaluru, have so far not yielded any definitive information about the incident or its motive.

Police officers maintain it is a stray incident, not aimed at hurting anyone at the ashram.

Bengaluru Forensics Sciences officials say they have discovered nothing during their investigation to indicate that it was an attempt on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's life.

FSL officials say the bullet, which hit devotee Vinay Kollumath, was shot from a distance of about 800 feet and bears no trajectory mark. This, they say, indicates it is stray in nature and not targeted at anyone.

"Although we are still ascertaining the velocity with which it was fired, all leads take us to the fact that it is a stray bullet," an FSL official told this correspondent.

A city police officer said that information from within the ashram is not forthcoming. "We have absolutely nothing left to investigate," he added, speaking on condition that he would not be identified by name for this report.

The Art of Living organisation, which Sri Sri Ravi Shankar heads, has claimed that it was an attack on the guru who turned 54 on May 13.

Sri Sri Ravishankar himself told the media on Monday that it may have been an attempt on his life, but added that he did not wish to enhance the security around his presence.

The police are intrigued that the complaint about the incident was lodged three hours after the alleged firing occurred. The incident occurred at 6.30 pm, but a police complaint was registered only at 9.30 pm.

A puzzled police officer added, "he is such an important person and if there was an attempt on his life, then it is very natural that they would want police protection and a proper investigation conducted as soon as possible."

The police are also surprised that despite many people being present at the site of the incident, not one person spotted the alleged assailant. No attempt was made to apprehend the individual who allegedly fired the bullet either.

Kollumath's trousers bear an L shape tear, FSL officials say. Had the bullet hit him as is being claimed by Art of Living officials, he would have suffered a deep injury.

Also, the bullet was fired five minutes after Sri Sri Ravi Shankar left the venue, indicating that the attack may have not been directed against the high-profile guru.

The AOL continues to maintain that the attack was directed at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, but refuse to comment further on the case, saying it is the job of the police to find out more.