VHP-Bajrang Dal hold 'Trishula Deekshe', arms training in Ponnampete; draw flak

Ponnampete: It has come to light that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal participated in a “Trishul Deekshe” and were imparted weapons training at a school premises Ponnampete in Kodagu.

The photos of Hindu activists receiving ‘Trishuls’ at the Sai Shankar Vidyalaya in Ponnampete after a week-long training have gone viral on social media and have drawn widespread criticism.

More than 120 participants from the VHP and Bajrang dal from different parts of the state were given training on shooting airguns at the camp.

MLAs K.G. Bopayya,  M P Appacchuranjan, MLC Suja Kushalappa, and other state-level Hindu leaders reportedly participated in the program.

Sources said the intelligence department of the police was clueless about the training camp being held at the school. The information was received only after the photos of the event went viral on social media.

Meanwhile, some organizations have criticized the move of VHP and Bajrang Dal. Madikeri corporator Amin Mohsin alleged that such actions were used as a pretext to disrupt peace and harmony in the society. He told reporters that a police complaint will be filed demanding a probe into the arms training.

However, VHP claimed that the program was held as a means of “self-defense”. VHO District president Suresh Muthappa said that the ‘Trishula Deekshe’ was a religious practice. Air gun training was not aimed at anyone, it was just a part of a lesson on “Hindu dharma and self-defense,” he added.