Police condemned for disrupting celebrations

Shashidhar Hegde, chief whip in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), on Wednesday condemned police officials’ disruption of Shivarathri programmes at Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Kavoor.

The temple committee organisers had been ordered by the police officials to wind up the bhajan sessions and Yakshagana performance at the temple on Monday night.

Hegde told reporters at the Patrika Bhavan on Wednesday that the Yakshagana performance had been organised for the special occasion. “Police officials barging into the temple and ordering the organisers to stop the programme hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees. The programme was held inside the temple compound,” he pointed out.

“It is learnt that the police officials were acting on the instructions of higher authorities, which is unfortunate,” Hegde added.

Former Mayor Harinath and corporator Deepak Poojary were present at the press meet.