The Hindu : Karnataka News : Popular highway temple razed, irate mob turns violent

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Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Popular highway temple razed, irate mob turns violent

Special Correspondent

Protesters doused themselves with kerosene and threatened to immolate themselves
They also poured kerosene on Additional Deputy Commissioner G.S. Naik

Taking control:Police chasing away a section of the mob on the National Highway near Bagepalli on Monday.

CHICKBALLAPUR: Irate public took to stone throwing and set a highway patrol jeep on fire on National Highway 7 in Bagepalli taluk on Monday evening when revenue and police officials attempted to clear an illegal temple situated on the busy highway.

Despite violent protests and suicide threats by a nearly 2,000-strong mob, officials razed the popular Sunklamma temple near Paragodu in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines and instructions of the State Government to clear such encroachments, Chickballapur Additional Deputy Commissioner G.S. Naik told The Hindu. The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob that took to stone-pelting and assaulting the drivers of earth movers that were brought to the spot by the officials. Bagepalli police Sub-Inspector Anand was injured in the incident. Traffic was hit on the highway for nearly two hours, the police said.

The Sunklamma temple has been attracting hundreds of devotees from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had visited the temple a few days ago.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had requested the Chickballapur district administration to clear the temple as it was hindering traffic on the national highway, which was recently built under public-private-partnership model.

Mr. Naik said notices were served to the temple authorities twice. After officials set a 3 p.m. deadline on Monday to clear the encroachment, those associated with the temple started mobilising people from neighbouring villages. The protesters doused themselves with kerosene and threatened to immolate themselves. They also poured kerosene on Mr. Naik.

Superintendent of Police T.D. Pawar, who was at the spot, said the situation was under control.

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