Chikkamagaluru: The three-day Datta Jayanthi ended in a violent note with clashes breaking out between the police and the saffron activists in Chikkamagalur on Thursday evening. The police resorted to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.
As per sources, the Hindutva activists resorted to heated argument with the cops as the police denied permission to hoist the ‘Bhagwadhwaja’- a saffron flag at disputed Imam-Dattathreyapetha atop Bababudangiri hills.
Scores of people from Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts visited the Datta-Imam peetha, had the darshan of ‘Datta Paduka’ and took part in the religious programmes organised by pro-Hindutva groups here.
This happens to be the first mega event to be held here after the Supreme Court disposed off the petitions seeking possession of the place and directed the State government to resolve the issue.
It is said that the violent episode broke when pro-Hindutva members barged into the restricted area and tried to hoist the saffron flag.When the police personnel stopped them, larger number of Hindutva group members barged in and to bring the situation under control the police wielded lathi.
Raged activists then resorted to pelting stones at the cops and even the media, injuring some reporters.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Chikkamagaluru as a procession was taken out by Muslims to mark Id-Milad. The district administration had ordered business establishments on prime roads to close down.
Policemen had been deployed to prevent the participants of Id-Milad procession from coming in contact with the Datta devotees.
The pro-Hindu outfits have been organising Datta Jayanthi here specifically demanding the State government to declare that the place belongs to the Hindus and hence Hindu priests be appointed here.
BJP leader C T Ravi, who was among the staunch supporters of this cause, also participated in the three-day event actively.
