Mangaluru: Hindus halted Milad-un-Nabi Procession in a protest of attack on Ganesh Chaturthi festival

B Koteshwar | VSWB | Mangaluru | Sept 16, 2024: A tense atmosphere gripped B C Road on the outskirts of Mangaluru on Monday, sparked by inflammatory remarks from VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell and former Bantwal Town Municipal Council president Mohammad Sharif in a barb of speeches.

Sharan Pumpwell called for restrictions on the Eid Milad-un-Nabi rally during a protest condemning communal clashes in Nagamangala, Mandya district, which occurred on the same day as the Ganesha Chaturthi procession was attacked by Muslims. He further stated that they had the capability to halt the Eid procession if they so desired.

In a viral audio message, Mohammad Sharif responded to Sharan Pumpwell’s remarks, issuing a defiant challenge for him to come to B C Road and attempt to halt the Eid procession on Monday.

Accepting the challenge, Hindutva activists, including Sharan Pumpwell and Puneeth Attavar, organized a protest, dubbed ‘B C Road Chalo’, and assembled near the Rakteshwari temple in B C Road on Monday morning. The group chanted slogans against Sharif, but their march was halted by police personnel, who used barricades to block their path.

A VHP representative declared, ‘We have come to B C Road in response to the challenge, just as we have faced similar challenges in the past, when many have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is a triumph of Hindutva that a large number of activists have gathered here in solidarity without needing an invitation.’

Senior officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Western Range Amit Singh, Dakshina Kannada SP Yathish N, Assistant Commissioner Harshavardhan, and Tahsildar Archana Bhat, arrived at the scene to assess the situation. In light of the Hindutva activists’ gathering on B C Road, police diverted the Eid Milad procession to an alternate route and denied permission for it to pass through the area. Meanwhile, a group of Muslim youth waving green flags conducted two bike rallies on the highway.

 Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan has indeed imposed a liquor ban in Bantwal TMC limits for the next 48 hours due to the tense situation in the area . To ensure security, six platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, four platoons of District Armed Reserve, and Rapid Action Force have been deployed ¹. This move aims to maintain peace and prevent any potential disturbances.

Meanwhile, Bantwal town police have taken Mohammad Sharif and another individual, Hasainar, into custody and registered a case against them. Additionally, a case has been filed against VHP leaders Sharan Pumpwell and Puneeth Attavar at the CEN police station in Mangaluru.

In Mangaluru, Hindus, united under the banner of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have resolved to counter the growing interference by Islamic groups in Hindu celebrations and to curb the excesses of Muslim festivals.

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__Inputs from TNIE.