Two persons from Karnataka suffered serious injuries, about five shops were damaged and some clothes and other items were set on fire following a clash between devotees belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka near Bhramarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, at Srisailam, on Wednesday night. The local kiosk owners, in turn, allegedly damaged two wheelers of the devotees from Karnataka.
According to sources, a minor argument between a devotee from Karnataka and a temporary tea kiosk owner led to a massive clash between the two groups. The enraged Kannada devotees allegedly went on a rampage and set fire to some articles from a couple of shops, and in retaliation, the locals, including shop owners, beat up the group of persons who attacked the shops and damaged some of their vehicles.
Temple Executive Officer S. Lavanna and other police officials rushed the injured to Sunnipenta Government Hospital for first aid and later shifted them to GGH, Kurnool. District Collector P. Koteswara Rao consoled the injured Kannada devotees at the hospital.
The Srisailam police with its good presence found it difficult to control the mob, and after an hour and some destruction of materials in the temporary shops, brought the situation under control. Mobs set on fire some articles at Patalaganga, Nandi Circle and the Administrative office.
No FIR filed
Deputy Superintendent of Police Y. Shruti said that no First Information Report was filed in the case as they were waiting for a complaint from the relatives of the injured devotees from Karnataka.
Temple Executive Officer S. Lavanna said the incident happened outside the temple premises so they had not filed an FIR with the police and that they only helped the injured by shifting them to hospital. “The temple will take responsibility for the treatment of both the devotees,” added Mr. Lavanna. The police take care of the law and order situation in the temple town, he added.
Meanwhile, a peetadhipathi from Karnataka has appealed for restraint among the devotees who had gone to Srisailam for Ugadi festivities.
“We brought the situation under control in the early hours, and now darshan is taking place normally,” said Srisailam Circle Inspector. The videos of the incident showed devotees holding large sticks and rods and going around the shops and destroying everything that came their way. The police have taken two persons into custody for questioning, but no case was filed till Thursday evening.
