Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur
Puttur, Feb 6: Tension gripped the premises of Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur after the house of BJP leader and former MLC Rajesh Bannur was demolished.
The house was reportedly razed to the ground late night on Tuesday by unidentified individuals who arrived in an Omni vehicle. During the incident, a pet puppy was buried under the debris and died, while 32 grams of gold, important documents, and cash were allegedly stolen.
Following the demolition, BJP workers staged a protest in front of Puttur town police station, demanding that the incident be registered as a case of robbery. A heated argument broke out between the protesters and the police during the demonstration.
Former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLC Kishore Puttur later arrived at the police station, demanding immediate legal action against those responsible for the demolition. Eventually, the Puttur town police registered a case against Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple Management Committee president Ishwar Bhat Panjigudde, trustee Vinay Suvarna, and others.
Puttur MLA Ashok Rai visited the site and clarified that the temple administration had no role in the demolition. He stated that if Rajesh Bannur had legitimate property documents, he should approach the court for legal recourse. Rai further argued that the land in question may have been given to Bannur’s ancestors’ decades ago, but in recent years, multiple structures had been rented out for profit. He criticized the BJP’s protest, questioning their stance on Hindutva and development.
The demolition was part of a broader temple development plan, which required the removal of eight houses on temple land. Six houses had already been vacated, while objections were raised by a local lawyer and a BJP leader. Notably, on February 2, a tree had fallen on the lawyer’s house. A discussion regarding Rajesh Bannur’s house was scheduled for Tuesday, and he had reportedly requested more time for vacating the premises. However, by midnight, the house under his possession was demolished using a JCB.
Bannur alleged that when he returned from Mangaluru at around 2 AM, he saw two excavators demolishing his house. He claimed that when he tried to intervene, he was threatened and had to flee. He accused MLA Ashok Rai of instigating the incident.
MLA Ashok Rai reiterated that if Bannur had valid documents, he should seek legal recourse. He added that even those who had earlier objected had now handed over the land to the temple. He questioned the BJP’s protest, stating that if Puttur’s residents believed temple development was wrong, the project would be halted.