Indian guru Ravi Shankar attack probe launched

BBC News/May 31, 2010

Police in the Indian city of Bangalore are looking for an unidentified man who allegedly opened fire at religious guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Ravi Shankar was unhurt, but a devotee sustained minor injuries, police officials said.

Sunday evening's incident happened when Ravi Shankar, 54, was getting into his car after his Sunday discourse.

The guru is a modern-day spiritual icon among many in India's middle and upper classes.

A senior police official told the BBC that security had been tightened around Ravi Shankar's ashram in the southern city.

"I don't want a security wall between me and my devotees who come to see me. I have forgiven the person [who fired] at me totally," Ravi Shankar told a news channel after the incident.

He said he heard a cracker-like sound when he was getting into the car after the Sunday sermons.

"I was later told it was a gun shot," he said.

It is unclear who may have targeted the guru, who runs the thriving Art of Living Foundation in India with branches all over the world.

His foundation has run yoga and spiritual classes in war-torn Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka.

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