A large number of right-wing activists, including members of the ruling BJP and the Sri Ram Sena, gathered in Aland on March 1 despite Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code being in force in the town in Kalaburagi district in the backdrop of Sri Ram Sena’s scheduled ‘purification’ puja to be offered to Raghava Chaitanya Shivalinga in Ladle Mashak Dargah, and insisted on being allowed to enter the dargah premises.
On that day, authorities of Ladle Mashak Dargah had planned a sandaal procession and Shab-e-Barat, a religious congregation in remembrance of the deceased.
Police and the administration had a tough time dealing with the emotionally charged mob led by Union Minister Bhagawanth Khuba, BJP MLAs Subhash Guttedar, Rajkumar Patil Telkur and Basavaraj Mattimadu, and BJP State vice-president Malikayya Guttedar.
The right-wing activists set off from the residence of Subhash Guttedar, MLA of Aland, and headed towards the dargah. They were stopped by the police near the bus stand in the morning and informed about the prohibitory orders being in force. When their appeals to disperse and leave the town went in vain, the police offered to allow only 10 people to offer puja to the Shivalinga in the dargah premises. However, the leaders did not agree and insisted that the entire mob be allowed inside the dargah premises and sat on a dharna outside the bus stand.
On the other side, a large number of Muslims gathered near the dargah and attempted to break the barricades while questioning the authorities for ‘applying prohibitory orders only to Muslims and not to right-wing activists’. They also opposed the authorities’ decision to allow 10 people from the right-wing organisations to offer puja in the dargah premises.
Some incidents of pelting stones and damaging vehicles were reported. The vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Assistant Commissioner were damaged.
As tempers were frayed, shopkeepers and traders closed their business establishments. The local transport system came to a halt. Most of the residents remained indoors. Mahashivaratri celebrations were not visible in the town.
Since police had put barricades around the town and stopped vehicles on the outskirts, people had to walk on foot for more than 2 km to reach their destinations.
The persistent persuasion from the police and administration finally yielded results with the two sides agreeing to the proposal to allow 20 members – 10 from each side – to enter the dargah and offer puja and prayers. Tempers began cooling by evening.
“The district administration has managed to bring the situation under control. We allowed 20 people inside the dargah – 10 from each community. The rituals went off peacefully. Some miscreants pelted stones on three vehicles, including mine,” Deputy Commissioner Yeshwanth Gurukar told The Hindu.
“The situation is under control and there is no problem now. We will file cases against those who violated prohibitory orders [under Section 144 of CrPC],” Isha Pant, Superintendent of Police, told The Hindu.
Background
Ladle Mashak Dargah authorities had planned a sandaal procession and Shab-e-Barat, a religious congregation in remembrance of the deceased, on March 1.
Sri Ram Sena, a right-wing organisation, announced to offer ‘purification puja’ to a Shivalinga located in the dargah premises on the same day, on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.
As a precautionary measure, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Yeshwanth Gurukar imposed Section 144 in Aland for five days – from February 27 to March 3. The entry of Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Mutalik and right-wing activist Chaitra Kundapur to Kalaburagi district was barred.
Siddalinga Swamy, head of Andola Karuneshwara math in Jewargi taluk and the State president of Sri Ram Sena, was also barred from entering Aland taluk during this period.
