Hassan
On Sunday, miscreants broke open the iron door of the Vidya Ganapathi Temple, located on the municipal premises in front of the bus stand, and placed slippers on the stone Ganesh idol.
The temple conducts daily worship, and local traders begin their day by offering prayers to the Ganesha idol. On Saturday night, the municipality had locked the gate and left. On Sunday morning, devotees discovered that the idol had been desecrated with slippers.
Police have launched an investigation using CCTV footage and suspect that the act may have been committed by a mentally ill woman. According to reports, a woman with a cloth covering her face entered the temple wearing slippers but was not wearing them when she left. The slippers on the idol matched those worn by the woman, and authorities are investigating her mental state.
The incident has created tension in the town. District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sujeeta visited the site, confirming that CCTV footage has been examined and eight teams have been formed to apprehend the accused.
Locals protested at the municipal corporation premises, demanding strict action against those who committed the act to disturb communal harmony. They warned that if the accused is not arrested by evening, a Belur bandh will be called on Monday.
MLA HK Suresh stated that the accused must be arrested and punished immediately. He added that if there is pressure on the woman, it should be carefully verified.
