From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Dec 18: Condemning the vandalism of the statue of Sangolli Rayanna at Anagol in Belagavi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the vandals would be dealt with sternly.
Speaking to media persons in Hubballi, he said: I have instructed the Home Minister to take stringent action against those who violate law and order.’’ Bommai said the Home Minister too has issued orders in this regard to police officers. Already a few persons have been arrested. ``Those indulging in acts of vandalism like stone pelting, destroying public property and damaging government vehicles would be dealt with sternly. More stringent and long term measures would be taken to ensure that such acts do not recur. Police have been instructed to take all measures in this regard,’’ he warned.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar has also strongly condemned the statue of the valiant freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna and termed the act as ‘’anti-Kannada’’ and declared that Congress party would never tolerate or support such acts of vandalism.
Meanwhile, Belagavi City Commissioner of Police Dr K Thiyagarajan said the police have already arrested 27 persons and have also identified over 100 miscreants involved in the acts of vandalism by damaging the statue of Sangolli Rayanna and damaging around 26 government and police vehicles.
The sporadic incidents of violence and vandalism are suspected as being part of the flash protests against the alleged desecration of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Bengaluru on Friday leading to damaging the statue of Sangolli Rayanna As a result, the statue installed at the Kanakadasa colony has been uprooted and its sword and shield have also been broken.
The Chief Minister made it clear that vandalising statutes of the patriots who have sacrificed for the country could not be tolerated. ``Statues are erected to pay respects to them, not to cause social unrest in their name. A few elements are indulging in such intolerable acts. They would be crushed.
Investigation would find whether it was perpetrated intentionally, Bommai said.