As many as nine policemen, including two senior officials suffered serious head and limb injuries when devotees hurled stones at them during a religious event near a temple at Bhoodanagudda in Kalghatagi taluk of Dharwad district on Monday evening.
The injured policemen, including seniors Amaresh Barkeri and Suresh Yallur, have been admitted at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubli.
Policemen who were deployed to provide security during the event were at the receiving end as devotees threw stones on them for denying entry into the temple at Bhoodangudda, 18 kms away from Hubli. A large number of devotees visit the historic temple on the last Monday of the auspicious Shravana month. A car festival is also held on the occasion.
People from Halligeri, Mulmutthal, and Dhumwad came to the temple carrying ‘pallakkis.’
As the temple is located on a hillock and has a narrow entry passage, police were deployed to discipline the devotees and prevent a possible stampede.
However, a group of devotees from Dhumwad argued with the police to allow them to enter the temple premises first. Following heated exchanges, they reportedly pelted stones at the policemen.
Superintendent of Police Lokesh Kumar rushed to the spot with reinforcement. After an hour, the devotees were allowed to enter the temple premises. However, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident, the police said.
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