Newly-wed Dalit couple denied entry to temple in Karnataka, officials convene peace meeting in village

A day after a 58-year-old agriculturist from Gonitumakuru in Turuvekere taluk of Tumakuru district in Karnataka was arrested on the charge of preventing a newly-wed Dalit couple from entering a temple on February 19, the district administration comprising police and revenue officials convened a peace meeting and escorted the newly-wed couple to perform puja.

A peace meeting was convened in Goni village of Turuvekere taluk following alleged humiliation of a newly-wed Dalit couple who were asked to leave the Arasamma Devi temple.

The alleged incident had taken place on February 19 at the Arasamma Devi temple. In response, a peace meeting was organised in the village on February 24.

After the meeting, Superintendent of Police K.V. Ashok and Turuvekere Tahsildar M.N. Kunji Ahmed personally escorted the couple into the temple, holding their hands, and ensured they offered prayers.

Amid police deployment, the Dalit couple entered the temple and had a darshan of the village deity.

Addressing the gathering, the Tahsildar said that a government temple is a public space as the Arasamma Devi temple comes under the Muzrai Department, and it is open to all devotees without discrimination.

He warned that strict action would be taken if such incidents recur in the taluk. He advised villagers from all communities to maintain harmony and communal amity.

Officials said the situation in the village, which had witnessed tension following the incident, is now under control after the peace meeting.

The accused, Narayanappa, was arrested under the SC/ST Atrocity Act, and remanded to judicial custody.

Similar incident, different place

On February 23, a Dalit woman was allegedly assaulted and abused inside a temple in Tumakuru district by the priest to stop her from entering the premises.

The woman, Roja, is from Andrahalli on Magadi Road in Bengaluru. She has alleged that she was abused on caste lines and assaulted inside a temple in Yediyur hobli.

Roja had come to her native village Thigalarapalya in Yediyur hobli to attend the Maramma Devi festival. On February 23 night, she visited the Venkataramana Moodalagiri temple along with her mother and sister.

In her complaint to Amruthur police station, Roja alleged that when she entered the temple, the priest, Hanumayya, along with Jayalakshmamma, Srinivas and about 16 others, objected to her presence, and asked her to leave.

She alleged that they abused her referring to her caste, saying she should not enter the temple. The accused allegedly picked her up by her hair, assaulted her, and pushed her out of the temple premises.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested the temple priest. Further investigation is underway.

Incidentally, both incidents occurred in the constituency of Home Minister G. Parameshwara.