Napoklu tense after beef found on temple premises

Tension prevailed for some time here after miscreants placed beef at the entrance arch of Nettumadu Bhagavathi Temple at Kakkabbe near Napoklu on Wednesday. The beef was kept in a plastic bag and hung at the arch.

Villagers and leaders of Hindu outfits who gathered at the site conducted a protest and urged to arrest the accused soon.

Addressing the protesters, ZP president B A Harish said that the heinous act cannot be tolerated as it is directed towards stirring the peace.

ZP member Padiyammanda Murali Karumbaiah said that the act is deliberate and has been carried out with the intention of creating communal tensions during Ganesh festival and Bakrid. Stern legal action should be initiated against the miscreants. Or else, stern protests will be held, he warned.

On Wednesday morning, the temple head Pandanda Naresh found a plastic bag which was hung at the temple arch. The bag contained four legs of cattle in a decomposed state. A complaint in this regard was lodged at Napoklu police station.

Following the same, the police officials conducted an inspection. The villagers who gathered at the spot on the occasion maintained that the higher police officials should visit the spot. Later, Madikeri DySP Sundar Raj and Madikeri rural police station SI Pradeep, who came to the spot, assured the villagers of arresting the miscreants soon.

DySP Sundar Raj said that a case has been registered. The act has been carried out intentionally and seems as an effort to disturb peace during Bakrid festival. Appropriate legal action will be initiated, he added.

ZP member Nellachanda Kiran Cariappa, taluk panchayat member Boliyadira Santhu Subramani and Kakkabbe gram panchayat president Karthanda Shaila Kuttappa, RSS leader Kangada Jaali Poovappa and Hindu Jagarana Vedike Keletira Sabu Nanaiah took part in the protest.