Chikkamagaluru: A day after a flag was found draped on the structure where the idol of Shankarachraya is installed, the police informed that the deed was done by a man who was inebriated at the time. Additionally, the flag did not belong to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
The police were able to identify the man after spotting him in a CCTV footage taken from the area. He later admitted to his actions.
It can be recalled that the atmosphere in the district became tense after the incident as only a few days ago, violence broke out in Bengaluru after a community’s religious sentiments were hurt. Three people were killed after police opened fire to get the situation under control.
However, an investigation into the incident in Sringeri, Chikkamagaluru has revealed that a 28-year-old coolie worker from Chikkamagaluru by the name Milind mistakenly draped the flag over the saint’s statue.
In a statement released to the press, Chikkamagaluru SP Hakay Akshay Machindra said, “…The person had consumed alcohol and under its influence and to cover himself from rain, he had taken a banner from Sringeri Jamiya Mosque, which was used during Eid-Milad festival and had placed the same over a pavilion on the statue of Shree Shankaracharya.”
The flag, the police said, was a banner from the Jamiya Mosque in Sringeri that was taken by Milind who wanted to protect himself from the cold temperatures at night.
Milind, the police added, does not belong to any political party or organisation, nor was the incident purposeful. They clarified that he had taken the banner as it was raining heavily. During the interrogation, Milind revealed that, after he realised that the banner relates to one God, he thought of giving it to another God and placed the banner over a pavilion on the statue of Shree Shankaracharya, the SP said.
