Daijiworld Media Network - Gulbarga (SP)

Gulbarga, Aug 31: The people of Chittapur town in the district, who were angered by the efforts made by the district deputy commissioner(DC), Satyamurty, to offer oblations and conduct some other religious procedures in a temple there late night on Saturday August 30, pelted stones at his car and a bus, besides holding him in illegal confinement in the temple for a few hours.

The DC had come to the ancient, historically famous  temple of Goddess Nagavi Yallamma, believed to be the family deity of the kings of Rashtrakoota dynasty, on the outskirts of Chittapur town. He had been accompanied by 11 priests specially summoned for the purpose from Sringeri. The programme was a private affair. A rumour that the DC was trying to replace the original deity in the temple with a new one, spread. A 5,000 to 6,000 strong crowd gathered outside the temple, and held the DC in confinement. They refused to let him go and pelted stones at his car and a bus.

The anger of the people was fuelled further, when the DC engaged with their leaders in a verbal altercation. The policemen came on the spot and failed to disperse the crowd, even after resorting to caning. In the melee, MLA Valmiki Nayak had to go back, after making a futile attempt to pacify the people. Superintendent of police Padmanayana also failed to convince the crowd about the fact that only some religious procedures were being held in the temple, and no replacement of deity is being done, but the people neither trusted him, nor agreed to vacate the siege. The people questioned about the need to conduct the oblations late night.

Added reinforcements of the police contingents arrived on the spot later. The policemen then succeeded in releasing the DC and the 11 priests from their forced confinement inside the temple.

In the meantime, various organizations have called for a Chittapur bandh on Monday August 31, opposing the proposal to replace the ancient idol of Goddess Nagavi Yellamma.