Lakhs of devotees take holy dip at Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya'

ALLAHABAD: Lakhs of devotees today took the holy dip here at the Sangam - the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - on the auspicious occasion of ' Mauni Amavasya'.

Cold weather conditions and heavy security were no dampener for the devotees as they started coming from late last night. They had to walk several miles due to restrictions on vehicular traffic.

The Magh Mela had commenced on January 5, coinciding with the Paush Poornima festival. It will conclude on Magh Poornima falling early next month.

Meanwhile, a 56-year-old Sadhu was murdered allegedly by one of his associates inside his camp near the Sangam, police said.

Swami Ratneshwaranand who arrived from Delhi last night, was attacked with a spade allegedly by a disgruntled associate in the wee hours, Additional SP Neeraj Pandey, who has been designated the 'nodal officer' for the Magh Mela said.

An FIR has been registered by members of the Manav Utthan Seva Samiti, which had set up its camp here, he said.

"The complainants have alleged that one of their associates, Rajeshwarananda, had a tiff with the sadhu recently and that he had been planning revenge of late and was missing," Pandey said.

The Manav Utthan Seva Samiti is a spiritual organisation floated by former Union Minister Satpal Maharaj.

According to the Police Control Room, 32 women have been arrested for allegedly stealing belongings of bathers since the beginning of the Magh Mela.