Temple demolition sparks communal tension in Gangavathi

The demolition of an under-construction temple has sparked off communal tension in Gangavathi town in north Karnataka’s Koppal district.

Trouble began after various groups particularly BJP and pro-Hindutva organizations took out a march in the town on Monday to protest the demolition of an Ayyappa Temple by the authorities. The protestors held Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari responsible for the destruction of the temple.

During the march, the protestors appealed to the people of the town to close down their business establishments. When the procession reached a hardware shop owned by Iqbal Ansari, who is also the Minister in charge of Koppal district, the protestors forced the workers to down the shutters of the shop. But, the workers resisted, leading to stone throwing.

But, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control by caning the violent mob. Trouble erupted again when the police blocked the pro-Hindutva protestors from hoisting a flag on the disputed land, where the temple stood. Police had to baton charge the crowd injuring several people in the melee.
According to officials, the authorities decided to pull down the under-construction temple as it was coming up illegally on Government land. The protestors alleged that the temple had been demolished at the behest of Iqbal Ansari.