An alleged assault has been reported by the Sankeshwar police following Ganapathi darshan at the famous Neelagar Ganapathi temple in Sankeshwar city of Belagavi district.
In a report, a man was assaulted by several police personnel when he was gathered for darshan. The youth’s family members and supporters are demanding action against those police officers involved in the assault.
The incident took place during Ganapathi Darshan, it was reported
The incident occurred at the Neelagar Ganapathi venue in Sankeshwar, where devotees from Karnataka and Maharashtra visit in large numbers every year.
The Ganapathi festival is open to devotees for 21 days, and crowds are very large during the darshan period. Police are available to control the crowd and maintain law and order.
According to the allegations, a commotion broke out among devotees during the darshan, and police officers tried to control it.
Five to Six Policemen Allegedly Assaulted Youth
The youth's side has claimed that around five to six police personnel assaulted him during the incident.
It has been claimed that the youth was attacked when he was returning home, and verbal abuse was also directed at him.
The allegations have raised concerns among residents and devotees, with the youth's family and supporters calling for action against the police personnel allegedly responsible.
Police Deployment Amid Heavy Devotee Crowd
The Neelagar Ganapathi darshan is attended by devotees from Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra. The crowd is large enough that police are deployed to control the flow of devotees and avoid any disturbance.
According to what is available, the alleged assault took place when the crowd was getting irate, and the police were trying to control the crowd.
But the exact circumstances leading to the alleged assault and the sequence of events are yet to be independently established.
Protest Demanding Action Against Police
After the alleged incident, members of the youth's side staged a protest against the police involved in the incident, in which the youth's side was reported to have protested.
The protesters have requested an inquiry into the accusations and appropriate actions if the accusations are established.
The incident falls under the jurisdiction of Sankeshwar Police Station.
Inquiry Into Allegations Awaited
The allegations against the police personnel are yet to be established by an official inquiry. Details on the identity of the youth, the nature of his injuries, and the response of the Sankeshwar police are awaited.
A police investigation should establish what caused the clash and if any police officers acted outside their lawful duties.
But as the Ganapathi darshan continues, authorities are also likely to be concerned about crowd management and keeping order at the popular religious venue, which draws devotees from all over the state of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
