Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Mar 5: “News that RTI activist Shanker Shanti was assaulted inside Barkur Kachuru Kalikamba temple is being spread. It is unpleasant. There is no connection between the incident and the temple. The unnecessary allegations on the youth of our community and filing of police case is not right,” said temple managing trustee Vaderahobali Sridhar Acharya.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, March 5 he said that volunteers were bringing banners and keeping them during Brahmakalashotsava when Shanker Shanti had objected. “Shanker Shanti has assaulted Pravin Acharya who was preventing Shanker Shanti from breaking window glasses. Meanwhile the wife of Shanker Shanti has escorted him home. He was not injured. The allegations in the social media that he was assaulted in the kitchen of the temple is false," he said.

“Shanker Shanti had obstructed while hanging the banners acting as if he was sick.

"It is not right to portray the incident that happened outside as that be connected to the temple. We did not pay attention to the CCTV camera then. We had disconnected the CCTV camera and electricity during the temple renovation. We had not put it on later. As installation of the deity should be completed within the stipulated period, religious programmes were our priority.

We too can protest the way other communities do now. But we follow the footsteps of our Guru. There are 15 temples in the purview of our temple. There are 144 village trustees and 38 groups and organizations. Entire Barkur will support us and all the communities will back us,” he said.

Third trustee Ravi Acharya, secretary Janardhan Acharya and member Chandra Acharya Kota were present.