In the wake of a ‘Srirangapatna Chalo’ march announced by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing organisation, for June 4, Section 144 CrPC has been decreed in the Srirangapatna town of Mandya district in Karnataka. The gathering of four or more people is restricted from 6 am to 6 pm in the town today.

Heavy police force has been deployed in the town and 4 check posts have been installed in the area as a precautionary security measure ahead of the programme.

According to the reports, the members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal gave a call to march toward the Jamia mosque in Srirangapatna and perform Hindu religious puja inside the Mosque today. The Hindu organisations said that the Jamia Mosque was built by Tipu Sultan in the year 1782 after demolishing a Hanuman temple.

Reportedly, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra taking the cognizance of the event said on June 3 that every organisation has the right to present its claims peacefully and democratically but no one is allowed to take the law into their hands at any cost. “The District Police has been instructed to take all precautionary measures to maintain law and order during the ‘Srirangapatna Chalo’ drive called by VHP tomorrow”, he added.

However, the members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal stated that they had sought permission for the march from the district authorities who failed to respond to the request. The mosque authorities have meanwhile appealed to the government to protect it.

Dy Commissioner Mandya, Aswathi S said that the setting up of the weekly Saturday market has been postponed and the liquor sale has been banned within 5 km limits of Srirangapatna today. He also added that the Masjid Road has been closed and that people will not be allowed in the masjid today. “CCTV cameras installed, a special team formed to look after suspicious movements”, he added.

Mandya SP meanwhile confirmed that prohibitory orders have been imposed by the district administration and that there’s no permission for the rally, procession or protest in Srirangapatna town panchayat limits today. “In view of this order we’ve ensured adequate bandobast in and around the town so that no untoward incident takes place”, he added.

Reports mention that a group named ‘Narendra Modi Vichar Manch’ (NMVM) last week had approached the Mandya deputy commissioner and had claimed that the Masjid-e-Ala was ‘Moodala Bagilu Anjaneya Swami Temple’. It had requested the deputy commissioner of Mandya to allow them to perform prayers to Hanuman inside the said mosque.

Image source: ANI