Bhutan Police arrest biker from Maharashtra for desecrating holy spot

An Indian tourist has been detained by the Royal Bhutan Police on Friday for allegedly desecrating a holy spot in Dochula, Bhutan. According to 'The Bhutanese', the accused, identified as Abhijit Ratan Hajare from Maharashtra, had been travelling across the Bhutanese countryside with a 15-bike convoy. The team was led by a Bhutanese national. The incident took place when the convoy was resting in the vicinity of the Dochula Pass that connects Thimpu to Punakha.

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The biker Abhijit Ratan Hajare was seen standing on the dome of Chorten, a sacred stupa in Bhutan that led to massive outrage on social media. He got captured on camera climbing the sacred Buddhist structure after which he was detained by Bhutan's police for hurting the religious sentiments of the people. A chorten or a stupa is an important religious monument in Buddhism and symbolises Buddha’s presence. There are about 108 stupas built in the region that have high Buddhist religious importance. 

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Bhutan Police investigates

According to reports, Abhijit Hajare’s passport was subsequently seized by the RBP and an investigation in the matter has been launched. He has also been allowed to stay at his hotel until the investigation is completed. Hajare climbed to the top of the monument by a ladder with the help of a Bhutanese carpenter named Jambhay and stood on top of the Chorten while posing for pictures. Jambhay, the carpenter, who was doing repair work on the Chorten, also posed for getting pictures clicked and the RBP is trying to track him down as well.

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