Tension after puja offered in front of masjid during Ganesha idol immersion procession

KOPPAL: Two days after stone-pelting during the Eid-Milad procession in Shivamogga, tension prevailed in Gangavati city after puja was performed in front of Jamia Masjid near Gandhi Circle during the Ganesha idol immersion procession.

A video of offering puja in front of the masjid has gone viral. The video shows that some Hindu youths performed mangalarati to the idol of Lord Ganesha in front of the Jamia Masjid on September 28 and shouted slogans saying, ‘Gavi Gangadhareshwar Maharaj ki Jai’. The Ganesha immersion was organised by Gangavati Hindu Maha Mandali.

A cultural troupe and youths participated in the procession, drew a star-shaped fire rangoli on the road in front of the mosque and lit lamps. Then they smashed an ashgourd, but the Muslim community opposed it. The police who were present at the spot immediately stopped it, poured water on the fire rangoli and sent the procession ahead.

A case was registered against four people on September 30 for performing puja on the basis of a complaint filed by police personnel as it could instigate communal violence. On Tuesday night too, another Ganesha idol immersion procession was taken out in front of the same mosque.

Muslim community people pressurised the police department to arrest them immediately for creating communal riots by performing puja in front of the masjid again and again. The leaders also insisted that the department take strict action to prevent this from happening.

The Deputy SP Deputy, police police inspector and other officials visited the spot and brought the tempers down by talking in the presence of the elders of the Muslim community.

Following the incident, Tahsildar Manjunath Bogavathy, revenue inspector, PSIs, Rural station PSI, DySP and many other personnel have been deployed due to the possibility of a clash between the two communities at any time and have kept close watch on every moments. The police conducted patrolling around the city after the dispute and instructions were given that gatherings of more than five people will not be permitted.