The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : Violence mars Ganesha procession at Ramdurg

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

Violence mars Ganesha procession at Ramdurg

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, SEPT. 28. Violence broke out during a Ganesha idol immersion procession at Ramdurg town forcing the police to resort to mild canning to disperse the mob.

According to the Ramdurg police, stones were thrown at the immersion procession when it was passing in front of a mosque late on Monday night.

Those in the procession threw stones at police vehicles and personnel in which the vehicles of a Sub-Inspector of Police and a Circle Police Inspector were damaged. Both the officers and three constables received minor injuries along with 16 people.

Platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police were rushed to the spot to ensure that the situation did not go out of control. The Police Sub-Inspector attached to the Ramdurg Police Station denied opening fire. No arrests were made.

Thereafter, the immersion ceremony passed off peacefully. The police said the situation in the town was now under control.

Peaceful

Our Hubli Special Correspondent reports:

The Ganesh Chaturthi festivities came to a peaceful end with the immersion of the Ganesha idols under tight police security on Monday night.

The highlight of the event was the immersion procession flagged off by the seer of Murusavira Math. It started at Durgad Bail and ended at the Murusavira Math well, where the idols were immersed.

Prahlad Joshi, MP; Ashok Katwe, former MLA; and S.S. Kamadollishetru, president of Sarvajanik Ganapati Mahamandal, were present.

Harmony

Our Sirsi Correspondent adds:

Communal harmony came to the fore at the immersion of a Ganesh idol at Gadihalli Cross on Monday.

More than 2,000 people including Muslims and Christians participated in the immersion procession. "Shantisene" of Unchalli village has been conducting the Ganeshotsava for the past 15 years.

Concludes

Our Madikeri Correspondent reports:

The Gowri-Ganesha festival celebrations in Virajpet concluded on Tuesday with the immersion of the Gowri and the Ganesha idols at Gowrikere in the town.

The idols were taken out in a procession, which remained peaceful throughout. As many as 14 decorated cars were taken out from different parts of the town and thousands of people witnessed the procession.

The entire town was illuminated and dazzling mantaps (decorated cars) added beauty to the event.

The cars reached the Mariyamma Temple and returned to the main road, proceeding towards Gowrikere. Puja was offered to the idols before the immersion.

Participants

Siddi Vinayaka Seva Samiti of Siddapur Road, Vigneshwara Seva Samiti of Arasunagar, Vijaya Vinayaka Utsava Samiti of Dakhani Mohalla, Angala Parameshwari Bhakta Mandali of Telugara Beedi, Mahaganapathi Seva Samiti of Panjarpet, Vigneshwara Seva Samiti of K. Boikeri, Netaji Utsava Samiti of Nehrunagar, Gowri-Ganesha Utsava Samiti of Jainara Beedi, Cauvery-Ganeshotsava Samiti of Murnad Road, Ganapathi Seva Trust of Sri Ganapathi Temple, Vinayaka Seva Samiti of the Anjaneya Temple, Ganapathi Seva Samiti of Panjarpet Main Road, Jaladarshini of Chikpet, and Kanmani Ganapathi Seva Samiti of Maletirike Betta participated in the procession.

The police had made tight bandobast arrangements. Personnel from the District Armed Reserve, the Karnataka State Reserve Police, and the Home Guards were deployed to maintain peace.

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