Ex-mayors slam police action at Kavoor Temple

MANGALURU: Former mayors Harinath Jogi and M Shashidhar Hegde spoke out unequivocally against the move of the Mangaluru City police in stopping the use of the public address system at a Yakshagana event going on at Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Kavoor, on Shivaratri. Terming the incident as sad and uncalled for, the duo said the police who gave oral directions to the temple authorities to do so, had been insensitive to the local cultural ethos.
Harinath told reporters on Wednesday that the action by the police inspector of jurisdictional police station at the behest of his ‘higher-ups’ was totally uncalled for.It was the duty of the PI concerned to inform his higher-ups about the cultural importance of Shivaratri celebrations at the temple, which has a long history, Harinath said, adding staging of Yakshagana as part of Shivaratri celebrations is an age-old tradition at the temple.
Shashidhar Hegde said the district has its own unique cultural identity and Yakshagana plays an important role in it. “Police personnel who are supposed to uphold the law have turned out to be law breakers in putting an unnecessary spoke into an annual programme,” he said, adding he along with Harinath and corporator Deepak Poojary had immediately called up district minister U T Khader and apprised him of the action taken by the police.
Deepak Poojary said the temple hosts Yakshagana within its premises regularly and Yakshagana by Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple troupe as part of Shivaratri celebrations is attended by scores of devotees. “Minister Khader has assured that action will be taken against the police officer based on the report which he has directed the city police chief to submit,” Deepak said, adding the incident has created fear among devotees.