Karnataka - Bangalore   

Tension as idol is desecrated

Staff Reporter

People take out procession, stage rasta roko

BANGALORE: There was tension in Varthur town on the outskirts of the city on Thursday as people took to the streets in protest against the desecration of a Ganesha idol installed at a public place as part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

The police said the members of Sri Rama Yuvaka Sangha on Wednesday installed the Ganesha idol in a pandal near the Gandhi Chowk. Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, some miscreants desecrated the idol, the police said.

As news spread, a large number of people gathered at the Gandhi Chowk and took out a procession before staging a rasta roko.

The protestors, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP leaders, demanded that action be taken against the vandals.

Following the demonstration, vehicular movement was affected for nearly an hour in Varthur and surrounding areas.

Shops and business establishments suspended business till afternoon, the police said.

The Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural district, K. Sreenivasa, who visited the spot, told The Hindu that the protestors have accused two persons of desecrating the idol and demanded that action be taken against them.

After the police promised to take action, the protestors dispersed peacefully, Mr. Sreenivasa said. The police deployed additional forces in the town. The Varthur police have registered a case.

Condemned

The BJP State General Secretary and MLC, Aravind Limbavali, and the BJP Yuva Morcha Secretary, Mohan Reddy, have condemned the incident.

In a joint press release, the two leaders said the Government should view the incident seriously as such happenings would spoil social harmony during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

The BJP would intensify the agitation if the police do not arrest the culprits immediately, they said.

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