With adequate police security, eight members of a Dalit family from Huvinahalli in Shorapur taluk of Yadgir have entered the Anjaneya temple in Amalihal village in Hunsagi taluk of the district and performed the tonsuring ceremony for their child.
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There was strong resistance from the ‘upper’ class community in Amalihal to Dalits’ entry into the temple. Following this, people from the Dalit community submitted a petition to the Kembhavi police and sought protection to them while entering the temple and for the family’s programme.
On May 27, Superintendent of Police C.B. Vedamurthy visited the residents of both the villages, held a peace meeting and explained to them the rights of every citizen to perform puja and also warned of legal action if anyone obstructed Dalits. However, the situation was tense. Therefore, the police discussed with taluk administration, following which prohibitory orders Section 144 of the Cr.PC were imposed in the two villages and police security was stepped up.
Police security increased in Amalihal village in Hunsagi taluk due to Dalit temple entry. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“On Saturday, the police brought the Dalit family members in a police vehicle from Huvinahalli to the temple at Amalihal and allowed them to perform the puja and conduct the tonsuring ceremony,” police sources said. Three circle inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors, 150 civil constables, and two platoons each from the District Armed Reserve and the Karnataka State Reserve Police have been deployed in the area.
“Presently, The situation is under control and police security is continued in both the villages,” Dr. Vedamurthy told The Hindu.