Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (GA)

Sullia, Mar 7: It was only a few days ago that violence had marred the festal celebrations of a temple at Puttur.  Following this, Puttur had come to standstill for couple of days.  Now it seems that it is the turn of Subrahmanya for the same.  Bundh is being observed in Subrahmanya near her following incidents of violence during a music nite at Guttigar near here on Monday March 5 night.

A music nite had been organized on the occasion of feast of Shri Muthappa Temple of Guttigar on Monday.  A total of 9 persons have been admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries in the violence. 

Hundreds of youth and rickshaw drivers from Subrahmanya had gone to attend the music nite at Guttigar.  Late in the night, when the music nite was on its full swing, youth from Subrahmanya started dancing.  However, instead of enjoying their dance, people from Guttigar took an exception of this and asked them stop dancing.

This gave rise to argument between both the parties.  At this point a youth from Subrahmanya pushed a youth from Guttigar who had come to hit him.  This enraged the Guttigar group and with no time both the groups were up in arms.  Guttigar group led by Muthappeshwar Temple managing trustee and Guttigar GP president Venkat Valalambe assaulted several persons.  Some were pulled out from their rickshaw and assaulted too.  Three police personnel who were on duty were unable to control the crowd.  Finally they resorted to mild caning.  But it was of no use as the crowd attacked the police personnel itself.  The crowd was controlled only after additional police force arrived on the spot.

When the news spread in Subrahmanya on Tuesday morning, they gathered together along with civilians and staged protest in front of Subrahmanya police station.  As per the complaint lodge, the police later arrested Venkat Valalambe and four others.

When they were brought to the police station, people once again gathered in big numbers.  There were even preparations to pull the arrested from the police jeep and assault them.  But timely interference by the police avoided the possible assault.

The rickshaw drivers' association and civilians have however called for Subrahmanya bundh on Wednesday March 7.  Bundh has begun peacefully and all the shops, business concerns have been closed in Subrahmanya.  Even rickshaws are off the road.  However, devotees coming to the Temple at Subrahmanya are taken care adequately.