In a tragic incident, Mahant Mahendra Minekar, the 63-year-old head priest of the Santoshi Mata Temple in Kuber Nagar, Ahmedabad, died by suicide on Sunday within the temple premises after putting up the suicide note on temple walls.
In his suicide note, Mahant Minekar accused the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), builders working with corporation, and the police of continuously pressuring and threatening him to vacate the temple, which was to be demolished as part of PM Awas Yojana to be constructed behind the temple.
He took this extreme step after the police visited the temple on Saturday, informing him that he must vacate the premises immediately.
The priest’s son, Brijesh, told Gujarat Samachar Digital that “The 53-year-old temple received a demolition notice from AMC four years ago. AMC planned to build an Awas Yojana on the land, and for four years, my father and the temple faced repeated warnings and pressure, unable to handle the pressure after the last warning by the police on Saturday, he ended his life.”
For the past several months, there had been reports of disputes over the temple land. Devotees had expressed concerns over the potential demolition, but officials allegedly continued to push for the temple’s removal. According to the suicide note, these pressures played a significant role in the priest’s tragic decision.
In his final words, Mahant Minekar instructed his brothers to ensure a fair distribution of his wealth and to take care of his family. He also urged his son, Brijesh, to look after their loved ones.
He also acknowledged the support of his wife Kalpana and daughter, Sneha.