Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Dec 25: Dispute arose on Thursday December 24 after some Datta devotees from Dakshina Kannada district uprooted fencing at the prohibited area near the Datta Peetha and planted a saffron flag there. The development gave rise to tense moments within the gathering, and the police personnel resorted to light lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

When some people removed iron gate and wire fencing erected across the prohibited area and rushed inside, heated words were exchanged among groups of Datta devotees. As some of the people pelted stones, one of them suffered injury to his head. Some devotees showered their anger over the media persons who were recording the events by pelting stones at them. Four media persons were injured in this incident. The devotees also snatched away some cameras, beat up the concerned, and ordered the cameramen to leave.

When Karkala MLA, Sunil Kumar, and leaders of Sangh Parivar outfits tried to dissuade some devotees from fomenting trouble, the devotees took the leaders to task and also posed death threat to Bajrang Dal leader, Praveen Khandya. They then turned their ire at the tourist canteen located in front of Bababudan Swami Dargah that had been closed then, and thoroughly damaged it with stones, boulders, and sticks. They also torched some flags tied outside the canteen. Policemen reached the spot sometime later and drove the crowd away.

Over 15,000 devotees who came from different parts of the state had a hard time having the darshan of Datta Paduke. Vehicles were checked at two spots on the route. Large number of vehicles created traffic jam in the region.

The district administration had made elaborate arrangements to stick to court order like non-performance of puja inside the cave, and by making arrangements for basic facilities and Prasadam distribution. Over 11 CCTV cameras were installed. Religious ceremonies were conducted inside a pandal in the presence of several Swamijis as well as MP, Shobha Karandlaje, MLAs, C T Ravi, Sunil Kumar, D N Jeevaraj and also some Bajrang Dal leaders. The policemen managed the situation in such a way that Datta devotees and Eid processionists did not come face to face.