Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Nov 11: On Wednesday November 9, preparations were made to perform a Homa (oblation) at the controversial hall located adjacent to the home of Bhaskar Shetty murder-prime accused, Niranjan Bhat, and his father, Srinivas Bhat, who has been accused of destroying evidence and misleading police. After they got wind that people from the village were planning to come together to hold protest against the current Homa, Karkala police rushed to the spot and foiled this attempt.

Srinivas Bhat, who has been released on bail in the said case, had made preparations to organize a Homa in the same hall in which the body of murdered Bhaskar Shetty was allegedly consigned to flames by his son, by creating a make-shift Homakunda. People from Nandalike, who came to know about this, planned to hold protest against performing religious ritual at a spot that has brought infamy to their village.

File photo of Homakunda during earlier investigation

At dusk on Wednesday, the Homa procedures began to take shape. When people gathered together to hold protest, police from rural station here rushed to the spot and stopped any friction from taking place. After the police asked people to show restraint and obey the provisions of prohibitory orders in place, the people relented. It may be recalled that the people of Nandalike, who had assembled to assault Niranjan Bhat when the police brought him here for investigation, had also obliged the police when they requested the people not to create a scene.

A few vehicles were found parked outside the hall where the said Homakunda is located, and performance of Homa began with the nightfall. When the police questioned him, Srinivas Bhat remained evasive, saying that the Homa was planned in view of the deteriorating health condition of his wife. But the police acted fast, and extinguished the Homa flame by pouring water. They also warned Bhat against holding any Homa or Puja at this spot.