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Tension prevails in Bababudanagiri

Tension prevailed in and around the cave shrine of Bababudanagiri in Karnataka, with some miscreants indulging in stone-throwing, even as thousands of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists offered prayers to Sri Baba Budanagiri Dattatreya Dargah, a Sufi shrine, where both Hindus and Muslims have been offering worship.

However, timely intervention by the police brought the situation under control.

The three-day celebrations, which began on Tuesday, became controversial this year with the VHP and Bajrang Dal announcing their intention to liberate the shrine on the ground that it was a Hindu place of worship.

Heavy security arrangements have been made in the area with platoons of the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force deployed to maintain law and order, Inspector General of Police (west range) Bhosle said.

Bajrang Dal president Prakash Sharma said they had given up the idea of liberating the shrine themselves and instead, given one year time to the Karnataka government to liberate it.

Meanwhile, the five ratha yatras organised by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal from various parts of Karnataka reached the cave shrine yesterday. The volunteers began yagna and prayers, which will conclude this evening.

UNI

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