While the Sri Lankan Police officially announced that an Island – wide manhunt has been launched to apprehend ” Venerable” Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero the political grapevine hummed that the Ethno Religious Fascist Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary was being housed in a secret location with the support of a top cabinet minister.
Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Strength Force- pic via BBC
Police headquarters in a statement said several units were deployed to track down the monk who leads the Bodu Bala Seaana (BBS) after the Colombo magistrate ordered the impounding of his passport.
“He is wanted in connection with the obstruction of police officers, hate speech and several other cases,” the police statement said.
The statement came as the BBS held a press conference at a temple in Rajagiriya and announced that the monk had gone into hiding fearing that he could be assassinated after being arrested by the police.
“The monk is at a secret location and we have told him not to come out, ” BBS spokesman Dilantha Vithanage said.
He further said that there was a conspiracy to assassinate Gnanasara, and all the recent attacks that had taken place against Muslim owned establishments and mosques in the country were part of this larger conspiracy initiated by extremists elements which were supported internationally, as well as by sections of the government and the opposition.
Police said they wanted to record a statement from the monk after receiving more than a dozen complaints of hate speech against him.
He already faces charges of contempt for causing a disturbance inside a court and failed to show up on Wednesday to answer allegations of contempt. The Court of Appeal was told by the monk’s lawyer that he was unwell, but Vithanage said he did not show up because he feared for his life.
The BBS has been accused of instigating the latest wave of violence against mosques and Muslim-owned businesses.
Meanwhile oral reports circulating widely in the country opine that the BBS Bhikku is hiding at a safe house arranged by a top cabinet minister serving in the Sirisena- Wickremesinghe. These reports though widely believed remain as mere allegations unless otherwise proved conclusively.