The Jain community has initiated protests in Madhya Pradesh and various parts of India following a tragic hit-and-run incident in Rewa on May 20. The incident led to the demise of two Jain Sadhvis and left another critically injured. Organizations like Rashtriya Jain Shasan and Ekta Sangh have strongly denounced the accident, labeling it as a severe attack on Jain ascetics.
The unfortunate event took place near the Collectorate office in Rewa’s Civil Lines area, where a speeding car allegedly struck down three Sadhvis who were on a religious foot journey along the road. Sadhvi Shrutmati Mata from Sagar district lost her life on the spot, while another Sadhvi also succumbed to injuries. The third Sadhvi, currently in critical condition at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa, is on ventilator support.
The driver, identified as Rashid Ali Shah, fled the scene but was eventually apprehended after a prolonged chase. The Jain community has expressed serious concerns regarding the incident. Community leaders have asserted that video evidence clearly indicates the car deviating from the road’s center and intentionally hitting the peacefully walking Sadhvis, hinting at a potential conspiracy rather than a mere accident.
Demanding immediate registration of a murder case against the driver, the community has presented several key requests, including the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a comprehensive and unbiased inquiry, preservation of all CCTV footage related to the incident, and a swift court hearing for crimes against ascetics. They have also called for the enactment of a national ascetics protection policy and stringent measures to ensure the safety of Jain “Munis” (monks) and Sadhvis during their religious journeys.
Amid escalating community outrage, leaders have cautioned that without prompt and decisive action, they will initiate a nationwide Bharat Bandh and Jail Bharo movement. Peaceful demonstrations have already commenced in various cities, with larger protests scheduled for May 25 in locations like Bhopal, Indore, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. Senior Jain monks and notable figures, including Rajya Sabha MP Naveen Jain, have expressed profound grief and appealed for justice. The Madhya Pradesh government has pledged stringent measures, yet the community persists in demanding accountability and enduring safeguards for ascetics on public roads.
