Shillong, January 29: Amidst heightened tension in Karnataka’s Mandya district following the removal of a Hanuman flag, security measures have been intensified in the region. A substantial number of police personnel have been deployed in response to a protest rally called by the BJP and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) today.
In Bengaluru, a considerable gathering of protesters assembled on Monday morning to express their dissent against the flag’s removal. The demonstrators, who blocked roads and chanted slogans, including ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ were subsequently detained by the police.
Similar protests unfolded in Keragodu village, triggered by the removal of a Hanuman flag from a 108-foot flagpole by the district administration. This action sparked controversy as people, in defiance of prohibitory orders, gathered to vociferously voice their grievances.
The dispute originated when a group, authorized by the village panchayat to hoist the national flag, erected a 108-foot tall flagpole. Contrary to expectations, they hoisted a Hanuman flag, prompting the village panchayat officials to request its removal, which in turn led to protests.
Following the removal of the Hanuman flag, the villagers called for a ‘bandh,’ prompting the police to resort to a mild lathi charge to restore order and quell the unrest.
