Karnataka Cops File Case Against Temple After Devotees Violate Lockdown For Chariot Festival

India is under a coronavirus lockdown until May 3 with restrictions imposed on large gatherings of any kind. However, reports have surfaced about it being broken in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, close to a sealed COVID-19 hotspot named Wadi.

According to The Economic Times, around 100-150 devotees violated lockdown to participate in the Siddalingeshwara Jatra (temple chariot festival) in Rawoor village yesterday.

A village in Chittapur of Kalburgi – deemed hotspot for #COVID19– violates lockdown restrictions to host Siddhalingeswara chariot festival as 100s gather. Kalburgi reported d first #COVID19 death in d country. Death toll in district now at 3 with 18 active cases@XpressBengaluru pic.twitter.com/Wx6uF31DXG

— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) April 16, 2020

Meanwhile, in Karnataka's Corona hotspot Kalaburagi, crowds gather as the Siddhalingeswara chariot festival is conducted despite lockdown orders and a ban on rituals of any kind. This is a district where 3 people have died from #Covid19, including the country's first fatality. pic.twitter.com/An3gREiHZd

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 16, 2020

The Hindu quoted Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police Iada Martin Marbaniang saying,

“At present, we have identified and named 20 people in the FIR. We are verifying the video clips to identify all the people who participated in the event. Wadi PSI is suspended as he should have ensured that this kind of incident did not happen as all the people are from the same village. The PSI had, two days back, conducted a meeting with the secretary of the temple and told him not to organize any programmes. The secretary had agreed and given it in writing that no such event would be organized.”

According to News18, sub-inspector Vijayakumar Bavagi of Wadi police station has been suspended along with Chittapur Child Development Project Officer Rajkumar Rathod.

Today 6.30am,100-150 people had come near Siddalingeshwara temple for abt 20mintues&took part in chariot pulling procession. Case registered against those people (20 named&others being identified) for violation of lockdown rules. A sub-inspector has been suspended: SP Kalaburagi pic.twitter.com/jPossiUXIE

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

The temple management had earlier agreed to cancel the event owing to the imposition of Section 144 until April 30 which is why a case has been registered against them as well. The purpose of the nationwide lockdown will only be served if ALL of us follow its protocols, don’t you think?

Cover Image Source