The Madhupur Satra Samiti (MSS) on Thursday admitted its inability to properly manage the historic Madhupur Satra at Cooch Behar in West Bengal. But it indicated possibility of a conflict between the ‘satradhikar’ and ‘deka satradhikar’ of the satra behind the assault of the latter.
Talking to media persons in Guwahati on Thursday, Madhupur Satra Samiti (MSS) general secretary and Asom Gana Parishad leader Kumar Deepak Das alleged that both the Assam Government and West Bengal Government have not provided any police security to the satra even after repeated requests.
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Das, who is a former Rajya Sabha MP, further said, “We have submitted memorandum to the Assam Government and the West Bengal Government demanding police security to the satra. But both the Governments have not given any importance in the matter.”
Talking on the allegations that miscreants have been using the Madhupur Satra campus for consumption of alcohol or for other anti-social activities, the MSS general secretary said, “The Madhupur Satra Samiti has failed to control such things which are happening in the premises for a long time. The district administration and police have not taken any step to curb the problem even after repeated complaints.”
Also read: Assam: Assault of Madhupur Satra’s ‘deka satradhikar’ condemned
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Das, while talking on the assault on ‘deka satradhikar’ Pitambar Ray Bhakat on June 22 last, said, “In 2016, one contractor, Janaika Sethia misbehaved the ‘deka satradhikar’ in the satra premises. That incident has direct link with the attack on Pitambar Bhakat by Mintu Roy, who was a helper of Madhupur Satra’s Satradhikar Lakhikanta Mahanta.”
The Samiti demanded exemplary punishment to Mintu Roy, who was arrested for being involved in the assault case.
“There has been a conflict between Satradhikar Lakhikanta Mahanta and Pitambar Ray Bhakat of Madhupur Satra for a long time. We do not know the exact reason behind the conflict between the two,” Das said.
The Samiti demanded a high-level investigation into the assault case.
Das also informed about the decision of the Madhupur Satra Samiti to hand over the responsibility of settling the dispute and other prevailing issues inside the satra on Barpeta Satra’s Satradhikar Basistha Devsarma, Deka Satradhikar Nabajit Das, Jinkata Satra (Golokganj) Satradhikar Bichitra Bhakat and Satrasal Satra (Dhubri) Satradhikar Jitendranath Pradhani.
The Samiti also demanded that a research centre be set up by the Assam Government in Madhupur Satra campus to study Vaishnavite culture.
Das also said Madhupur Satra Samiti has decided to renovate the satras which are located in Bangladesh in association with Sankardeva Foundation, an organisation based in Bangladesh.
He also said, “There are around 18 satras in Bangladesh which are in bad condition. So, we have decided to work in association with the Sankardeva Foundation to renovate the satras there.”
It may be mentioned that Mintu Roy, who was arrested by West Bengal Police for assaulting the ‘deka satriya’ of Madhupur Satra recently, has been released on Wednesday on bail.