Group detained for bid to enter fort in Kalaburagi for Shivaratri puja

A group of people led by Divya Hagaragi, one of the main accused in the Sub-Inspectors’ recruitment irregularities case, was detained by the police on Sunday after it made an attempt to enter the Kalaburagi Fort without permission to perform Maha Shivaratri puja.

According to the police, the group gathered near the fort saying that it intends to carry out special prayers at the Sri Swayambhu Someshwar Temple located inside the fort premises.

However, as the fort is a protected monument under the Archaeology Department, prior official permission is mandatory for conducting any religious or public activity within its premises.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivanagouda Patil informed the gathering that entry to the fort for performing puja is not possible without approval from the authorities concerned. He stated that the police are acting in accordance with legal provisions.

Meanwhile, protesters assembled near the fort entrance, raised slogans against the Archaeology Department and demanded that devotees be allowed to offer prayers at the temple, especially in view of the festival.

As the protest began to intensify, police detained activists as a precautionary measure to prevent any breach of law and order.

The detainees were taken in buses to Farhatabad Police Station on the outskirts of Kalaburagi. They were later released.

The police detained Ms. Hagaragi along with Sagar Rathod, Shashikumar Shetty, Prashant Jadhav, Pavan Poojari, Annarao Patil, Bharat Madival, Abhishek Kanasur, Dileep Kanasur, Nagaraj Kannur, Nitin Thakur and Nagaraj Veeranayak, among others. All those detained were released later.

The situation remained under control and no untoward incidents have been reported.