Indian Biker Sets Foot on Sacred Buddhist Shrine, Detained

Guwahati, October 18, 2019:

Bhutan Police detained an Indian biker for allegedly desecrating a holy spot in Dochula. The detainee, who has been identified as Abhijit Ratan Hajare, was traveling across the Bhutanese countryside with a 15-bike convoy.

Abhijit Ratan Hajare hails from Maharashtra. The bikers team was led by a Bhutanese national.

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Dochula boasts of 108 memorial chortens - stupa-like structures that are of importance to Buddhism and found across Tibet.

Hajare was detained after his photos standing on top of a chorten in Dochula went viral on social media on Thursday.

Reportedly, the incident occurred without the knowledge of the team leader.

In a report by-- The Bhutanese, the biker-convoy had been resting at the spot when Hajare came across the chorten. A local Bhutanese carpenter who had been working on repairs on top of the chorten was already sitting on top of the chorten. Hajare asked the man if he could also get on top and used the local's ladder to get there.

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The viral photograph of the Indian tourist standing on top of the chorten caused much outrage on social media.

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