‘Kalki Avatar’ Row: Controversial Ashram In Bhubaneswar Built On Govt Land, BDA Confirms After Raid

Bhubaneswar: The controversial Shree Baikuntha Dham Ashram at Ghatikia in Odisha capital has come up on government land, according to an official of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA).

Officials from the GA department and Bhubaneswar tehsil accompanied by BDA’s enforcement squad carried out a preliminary assessment on Monday amid land encroachment allegation against ashram built over an area of 0.140 acre. “The ashram is located on plot numbers 9037 and 9038. On verification, it was found to be government land,” the official said.

It may be noted that a voluntary organisation had lodged a complaint at the Bharatpur police station, alleging that a man, identified as Kashinath Mishra, has been claiming that his son is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in ‘Kalki Avatar.’ The controversy erupted after photographs of Mishra’s son surfaced, showing him sitting in a chair with sacred ‘Tulsi’ (basil) placed at his feet.

The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has also registered a case suo motu to verify the age of the child and asked the IIC of the Khandagiri police station to submit a report on the issue within 15 days.

On Sunday, Khandagiri police also visited the ashram as locals staged a protest at the site alleging that the photograph had hurt their religious sentiments.

Mishra, however, has refuted the allegations and claimed that the photograph of his son has been morphed to tarnish the reputation of the ashram.