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17-year-old boy detained for desecrating idol in Vijayapura district
Officers said the act was committed on Tuesday night, when members of Muslim community had installed an idol ahead of Dussehra celebrations.
A 17-year-old boy has been detained by the police for allegedly desecrating Amba Bhavani idol in Hirebevanuru village of Indi taluk in Vijayapura district of Karnataka on Wednesday, officers said.
Officers said the act was committed on Tuesday night, when members of Muslim community had installed an idol ahead of Dussehra celebrations.
However, following the festivities, a boy from the minority community came to the venue and removed the clothes of the deity.
Officials said that the boy was found hiding in the room in which the idols are kept throughout the year. The priest had entered the room around 11.45 pm to finish puja rituals, where the boy was caught red-handed by the villagers and later handed over to Indi rural police, an officer said.
The boy is currently being interrogated by the police. The incident has triggered sharp reactions from the villagers, following which the police assured them of stringent action in the matter.
“Every year, we celebrate Dasara festival in a grand way and after the celebrations keep the idol in a room specifically allocated for it,’’ Hirebevanuru gram panchayat member Sujatha Manjunath Jamadar told HT. She urged for a thorough police investigation into the matter.
“We have registered a case under IPC section 295 (damaging place of worship), 295A (outraging religious feeling by insulting) and 153 (provocating with intent to cause riot), and are further investigating it,’’ Indi rural police inspector Sangamesh told HT. He said the boy will be produced before the juvenile justice board. The police have stepped up security in the village.
