JOIN USRepresentatives of two private channels and a newspaper had been to the house of one Keshavamurthy, the chief priest of Markandeshwara temple in Khandya, for the dog in the house reportedly had some special qualities. When the media men were shooting the activities of Mothi, the dog, a group led by former MLC Manjunath arrived there and questioned the act. Dissatisfied by the justifications, the group assaulted the media men and damaged the camera, tripod and other equipment. In the meantime, Balehonnur SI Govindappa arrived there and received the recorded cassette. But, the persons who assaulted the media men, snatched the cassette and destroyed it on the spot, and warned of dire consequences if the programme was telecasted.
A complaint has been registered in Balehonnur police station against S V Manjunath, S C Ramachandra, S V Rajappa Gowda, S E Shankar and S R Avinash, in this connection.
A counter complaint has also been filed with the police alleging that the temple premises has been profaned due to the entry of dog.
Manjunath clarifies
In the meantime, Manjunath has clarified that he has no role in the incident. “They had been shooting in the temple, coming under the Muzrai department, without permission. They had also profaned the temple by bringing dog into the temple. The devotees questioned this and consequently there was an altercation. Being the temple committee convener, I was just present there,” he said.