CHHATARPUR: Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri on Tuesday distanced himself from his younger brother, Shaligram Garg, after allegations surfaced that the latter assaulted a man and opened fire during a dispute in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district.Responding to the allegations, Shastri said he had no connection with his brother and urged authorities to take strict legal action against anyone found guilty.“I had already spoken about Shaligram ji three years ago. I have no connection with him; in fact, I have no ties to my family. The entire world is my family; the whole of society is my family. I live for society, for the nation, and for Sanatan Dharma,” Shastri said.He added that incidents occasionally occur given the size of his family and district, but maintained that the law should take its own course.“Let the law take its course and appropriate legal action be taken; whoever is responsible should face the strictest possible punishment. I earnestly request that I not be dragged into every single matter,” he said.The statement came after Motilal Kushwaha accused Shaligram Garg and several others of assaulting him and opening fire during an alleged land dispute.“Shaligram Garg, Ankit Mishra, and two or three others were there. They beat me up and opened fire. They fired three or four rounds from a pistol. I was also hit here on the ear. Shaligram Garg struck me with a stick,” Kushwaha alleged.He further claimed that Garg was attempting to grab village land.“He was trying to take over people’s land; he had already seized a lot of village land. He hit me on the head with a stick and also fired shots from a pistol. I saw him firing with my own eyes. There were four or five people,” Kushwaha alleged.The allegations have triggered a police investigation.Authorities are yet to comment on the claims or announce any action in the case.
