Mangaluru: A day after unidentified miscreants demolished a Mother Mary grotto in the Bantwal taluk to instal buntings, a policeman was suspended for dereliction of duty.
Ashok, a beat police for the Kolnadu area attached to the Vittal police station, is the officer who was suspended by Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda.
The grotto, constructed in 1970 at the Vijayadka Church, was demolished under the cover of night on September 27. After demolishing the grotto, the miscreants reportedly placed some idols and installed buntings in its place. Police took two people into custody on September 28, for questioning in connection with the incident.
Several political leaders including MLC Ivan D’Souza also condemned the incident.
David D’Souza and Charlie Veigas lodged a police complaint with regard to the incident and another person filed a complaint alleging that the grotto was built on disputed land. The Church management, however, has clarified that permission from the owner of the land before the grotto was built.
