Belagavi
Leaders of pro-Kannada organisations staged a protest at Kurubarahatti village under Dhamane gram panchayat limits alleging that the police had attacked the protesters by removing the idol of Veerarani Channammaji installed on the roadside.
The villagers had come forward to install a statue of Veerarani Channamma on the occasion of Independence Day. As soon as the news came to light, the Police reached the village and said that they will not be allowed to install any idols, without the permission of the competent authority. Therefore, they will not be allowed to install the idol without permission, they told the villagers. The villagers objected to this and had an argument with the police.
During this time, the Police tried hard to convince them. The exchange of words escalated and the police finally tried to seize the statue of Channamma, which was brought for installation. There was a scuffle between the police and the villagers. As the situation turned ugly and the police tried to take some youths into custody, the villagers expressed their anger against the police.
My paralytic father, who was sitting on the terrace of his house, was dragged and made to sit in a Police vehicle. I was also beaten up when I went to free my father. I don’t care if my future is ruined. The statue of Channamma should be installed, said Roshni, a college student.
We have been requesting for the last 10 years to install a statue of Channamma in Kurubarahatti village. But the panchayat has not given us permission. Thus, the youth have installed the idol. We were also attacked by the police after removing the idol, the women alleged. The incident took place under Belagavi Rural Police station limits.
