Tension prevails in Hassan after miscreants vandalize idols in temple

Hassan: Tension prevailed in Arasikere taluk, Hassan on Tuesday after miscreants vandalized idols at the exhibition center of Malekallu Tirupathi Hill.

The temple is 300-year-old and is known as Chikka (mini) Tirupathi. It is located 2-km away from the Arasikere town atop a hill and is revered by the people in the region.

According to police, at least four miscreants vandalized the idols which were ready for installation.

The police said the miscreants, who came to the premises of the temple on Monday, swam in the Kalyani (sacred water body of the temple). They also smoked despite objections and threatened and chased away the laborers working on the premises.

Later, they went to the exhibition center and vandalized the idols which were ready for installation and some were under construction to be set up on the temple premises. The miscreants used rods and other equipment to break idols.

Considering the sensitivity of the matter, District Superintendent of Police R. Srinivas Gowda and senior officers in the district rushed to the spot. Dog squad and fingerprint experts collected the clues on miscreants.

After the news spread, Hindu activists and hundreds of people gathered on the temple premises. The police have beefed up the security on the premises and also were keeping vigilance in Arasikere taluk. Further investigation is on.

(With inputs from IANS)