Mosque covered with curtain during Shobhayatra

Bagalkot: In light of the Hindu convention, the Pankha mosque in the Killa area was covered with a cloth on Sunday as a precautionary measure.A grand Hindu convention was organised at the city+'s Basaveshwar ground. Before the convention, scheduled for 6pm, a procession was set to pass in front of the mosque, prompting police to cover the building with a cloth. Police vans and a significant number of personnel were deployed at the site. It is reported that a similar approach of covering mosques was followed during communal riots in Hyderabad.The Shobhayatra started from Venkateshwar temple, and it was inaugurated by performing puja of a cow. Hindu activists led by MP PC Gaddigoudar, Rajya Sabha member Narayanasa Bhandage, MLCs PH Pujar and Hanamant Nirani, and former MLA Veeranna Charantimath passed the mosque while raising slogans such as Jai Shivaji and Jai Sri Ram. Troupes such as Dollu Kunita, Halage Mela, Karadi Majalu, and children in the attire of great Hindu personalities participated in the procession. The route was decorated with rangoli and saffron buntings.No untoward incident was reported. On Feb 19, during the Shivaji Jayanti procession in front of the Pankha mosque, incidents of stone pelting and slipper being thrown occurred. A total eight people were arrested in connection with the incident. The city was tense following arson at a vegetable shop and stone-pelting.