Chadar Spread In Temple Sparks Protest In Kodagu

BENGALUR: Unidentified persons, who allegedly owned the tsar and showered flower petals near the sanctum of the Gadduge Betta Sri Siddeshwara Temple at Maldare in Kodagu’s Siddapura on Sunday afternoon, while members of pro-Hindu organizations alleged “an attempt to seize the land belonging to the temple and convert it into a graveyard.”

A group of people arrived at the Temple in the Wildlife Sanctuary and scattered trellises and pelted leaves, and then filmed their actions on their mobile phones before they were made public on social networking sites. Learning about the incident, the pro-Hindu organization cleared the chalk and flower petals that had fallen around the Temple. Sources said, “Such an attempt was also made in the Temple.”

Bhojegowda, a leader of a pro-Hindu organisation, Hindu Hitarakshana Samiti, said that the Temple of the Chola dynasty and Hindus hold the Temple in high esteem, and noted that Islamic fundamentalists were trying to build a “ghori (tomb)” near the Temple. One such burial site is located near the sanctuary, indicating an alleged “land grab”.

He claimed that the temple is located on forest land and no action has been initiated so far, and the police have not acted wrongly to hurt the sentiments of the police. Members of the Hindu Hitarakshana Samiti blocked the road to condemn the incident and the Samiti claimed that the majority of Hindus living nearby had given their support.

Sources said that the Temple is located on the border of Siddapura in Kodagu and Peryipatna taluk in Mysuru district and the Temple attracts devotees from both Kodagu and Mysuru.