The Chikmagalur Police has arrested two men for allegedly strewing nails on the route taken by Hindu pilgrims during Datta Jayanthi celebrations earlier this month.
Datta Peetha, a cave shrine in Chikmagalur’s Baba Budangiri mountains, has been a pilgrimage spot for Hindus. Hindus consider the hilltop shrine to be the final resting place of Lord Dattatreya, while the Muslims believe it is one of the earliest centres of Sufism in south India.
During the Datta Jayanthi celebration this month, nails were strewn on the road leading to the shrine. The Karnataka Police has arrested two men, identified as Mohammad Shabaz and Wahid Hussain. Both of them are residents of Ayyiappa Nagar in Karnataka’s Chikmagalur.
According to the police, on December 6, the first day of Datta Jayanthi, the accused allegedly placed these nails on the stretch of road leading towards Datta Peetha. Four to five vehicles, including a police car, were punctured because of the nails.
During interrogation, the two accused confessed to their crimes, police said. The accused claimed that they were jealous of the large turnout of Hindu devotees for the Datta Jayanthi celebrations and had intended to hassle the pilgrims, the police said. The miscreants had purchased 4 kg of nails from a nearby hardware shop.
Chikmagalur SP Uma Prashant said, “On account of Anusaya Jayanthi celebrations on December 6, from Kaimana Check post to enroute Dattreya Peetha near Honnamala region close to 4 km, there were a lot of nails found on the left side of the roads.”
After registering the case, the police got hold of the two accused who told they were miffed by the grand celebrations and huge banners put up by the other community members during Datta Jayanthi, the SP said.
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The accused confessed that they wanted to hinder religious celebrations and planned to put nails on the road to puncture car tyres and inconvenience the pilgrims, the SP said.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Police is looking for others involved in the incident. Special teams have been formed to nab people who are absconding.
Source : India Today