Religious leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is unharmed and safe after a nameless man opened fire on his car near Bangalore on Sunday evening. A disciple was damaged and the gunman escaped after the shooting at around 6:00 near Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's ashram in Kanakapura Road on the outskirts of town.
Karnataka Home Minister VS Acharya confirmed that the spiritual leader car had been fired on, but refused to comment further. "I'm waiting for more information. He is safe," said Acharya of the spiritual leader.
"I will not 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 most important social leaders. He is a social reformer as well," said Acharya, adding that security in 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 feel good. There is nothing to worry about," he said. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he continued with his program after the attack, and participated in meetings.
He said he could not say who the killer was, but insisted there was "no chance" that it could be one of his followers.
According to a press release issued by the Art of Living International Centre, opened fire, armed man Sri Sri Ravi Shankar back after delivering a discourse at his ashram.
"While the departure from public satsang (discourse) in the evening in Bangalore, an unidentified gunman fired on Sri Sri's convoy. It hit one of the devotees in the leg, causing a minor injury," the statement said.
Swami Sadyojatha, director of international affairs, Art of Living Foundation, told CNN-IBN that he was inside the car when it was shot, but could not comment on who was to blame for the attack. Sadyojatha said the injured student, Vinay, was discharged from hospital after treatment.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the spiritual leader and founder of Art of Living Foundation. NGO and its international counterpart - The International Federation for human values - are involved in relief work and rural development worldwide.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also a strong advocate of yoga as a tool to ward off stress and also solve social problems. The Foundation also runs several schools, Ayurvedic centers and art schools.
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