Chamarajanagar: Close on the heels of miscreants setting fire to Bandipur forest reserve which claimed the life of Deputy Range Forest Officer and injured three others, another incident has incited tension in Chamarajanagar. In the latest incident, Chamarajeshwara temple chariot was reduced to ashes miscreants who allegedly set fire to it on the night of February 18. However, chances of short circuit cannot be ruled out at this juncture.
The chariot is partially destroyed in the fire and tension prevails in the town as bandh has been called tomorrow demanding the arrested of those involved in setting fire to the chariot,and their extradition later.
Fire was observed in the wee hours of Sunday, February 20th morning and immediately fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the rising flames and prevented further damage to the 18 decade old chariot (Rath).
The fire was first observed by the Syndicate bank ATM staff who informed the police about the incident. The cover employed to protect the chariot from excess sunlight and rain was completely burnt in the rampaging fire.
The exact cause of fire is not known and the police are investigating the cause to find whether it was due to short circuit or an act by anti-social elements to create religious tension. Area Tahsildar Purandhara, Temple executive officer Manjesh and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Gangadharaswamy visited the spot and are investigating further into the incident.
Tahsildar Purandhara has lodged an official complaint in the town police station. The ineffective CCTV cameras installed around the temple have made the investigators task more difficult. However, police may verify footage from CCTV cameras installed at nearby syndicate bank and Bharath Co-operative bank to extract vital clues.
After the incident community leaders gathered at the temple premises, and called for Chamarajanagar bandh on Febrauary 20. They demanded action against miscreants involved in setting fire to the age old Chamarajeshwara chariot which has religious connection to the inauspicious month of Aashada according to Hindu calendar.
Kannada chalauvali leader Vatal Nagaraj has backed the bandh call given by pro hindu religious leaders and organizations and has simultaneously urged the district administration to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future
