Ukrainian Shiva devotee booked for indecency

A 30-year-old Ukrainian national, a self-proclaimed devotee of Lord Shiva, had the police in the temple town of Khajuraho in a spot of bother when he sat naked...

A 30-year-old Ukrainian national, a self-proclaimed devotee of Lord Shiva, had the police in the temple town of Khajuraho in a spot of bother when he sat naked in the Shivsagar pond, in full view of a number of women bathing nearby.

Policemen had to wait on the banks for the man to come out of the water even as several tourists and locals busily took pictures. K Alexander, who calls himself Shivkrishna and prefers 8216;Om8217; to his usual signature, left behind a trishul8212;his permanent possession8212;on the banks along with his 8220;clothes8221;. Like Shiva, he also wears an animal skin as loincloth, though it is not known whether it is real or faux.

Alexander argued that because he was the lord8217;s devotee he was not doing anything wrong by taking a bath on Monday, which has a special significance in the holy month of Shravan.

His explanations to the police as to why he was bathing stark naked in a public pool, however, was lost in translation as both sides grappled with a language problem. Some locals though accused Alexander of making lewd gestures.

Alexander told the police that he had been robbed of his laptop and camera at Bhedaghat near Jabalpur last month. Some people actually thought he was exposing himself in protest against police inaction in retrieving his valuables.

The Ukrainian contended that since he was not completely visible in the water he could not be accused of indecency. The police did not agree with him and booked him for exposing in public. He was produced before a magistrate in Chhatarpur who fined him Rs 50 before releasing him on Tuesday evening.

Police said the locals claimed that they had seen Alexander in the past carrying serpents around his neck. He had a valid passport and his travel documents were in order, but he asked for money when people took his photographs. He has been staying in the town8217;s Osho Ashram for the last four months.

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The police said though the Ukrainian does not have a criminal record, he often smokes ganja. The police will be contacting the Embassy of Ukraine with the case details.