Image Source: NDTV
Koppal: As many as 50 persons were arrested and charged by police in the Koppal district of the state for rioting after breaking a temple gate and forcibly taking out a chariot despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
The incident is said to have occurred in the Dotihal village of the Kushtagi taluk in the district.
According to a report by NDTV, district Superintendent of Police G Sangeetha said that the tehsildar had given permission for the annual prayers, however, they were to be conducted in the presence of a limited number of people inside the temple.
Prior to the incident, the gate was shut as soon as the number of people gathered at the temple grew to around 50. This was done in order to stop others from entering the premises, however, those gathered outside the temple grew agitated and broke the gate, which is a metal grill, and forcibly brought out the temple chariot.
Police were forced to use batons to disperse the crowds. They then took the chariot back and locked the gate.
SP Sangeetha, as reported by NDTV, said that most of the villagers fled after the incident.
The police used CCTV footage to identify the culprits and make the arrests.