Hindu activists hoist saffron flag, cops resort to lathi-charge at Bababudangiri

Chikkamagaluru: Tension prevailed at Dattatreya Swami Dargah premises on Sunday after a few Hindu activists hoisted Bhagavadwaja (saffron flag) at the disputed site, prompting police to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the group from the disputed site at Bababudangiri Hills in Chikkamagaluru.

Hundreds of Hindu activists from various parts of the state had congregated at Bababudangiri Hills for the three-day Datta Jayanti starting from Friday organized by Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits and police had made elaborate security arrangements to see that the celebrations went off smoothly.

After the activists were caned by the police, the situation was brought under control. Superintendent of Police K Annamalai is supervising the situation.
Around 2,000 policemen have been deployed for security.

Owing to the heavy influx of devotees, the road leading to Datta Peeta witnessed traffic snarls and vehicular movement was held up for hours. Vehicular movement was affected from Datta Peeta to Attigundi.

Meanwhile, miscreants stoned a private bus at Uppali in Chikkamagaluru town and sensing trouble, commercial establishments in the town downed shutters leading to an undeclared bandh.

It is said that two-bikers were assaulted in the town leading to a tense atmosphere. Mr Annamalai said security has been tightened in sensitive areas as a precautionary measure.