Hubballi Temple Pond Row: BJP Leaders, Activists Detained as Protest Turns Tense

Hubballi, August 22: Several BJP leaders and Hindu activists, including Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad, were detained by police on Saturday after a protest over an alleged encroachment of a temple pond turned tense.

The protest was organised by the Pushkarani Samrakshana Samiti, a committee that claims the pond of the Bhavani Shankar and Narayan Temple at Asar Honda in Old Hubballi has been encroached upon by municipal authorities to lay a road. The committee had called for the 'reclamation' of the temple land, asserting that the water body is an integral part of the temple precincts and holds religious significance.

Ahead of the protest, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner imposed prohibitory orders within a 500-metre radius of the temple premises as a precautionary measure. Police barricaded all roads leading to the temple and deployed a large contingent of personnel in the area. The authorities said the orders were meant to prevent any law and order issue, given the sensitive nature of the dispute and the involvement of political leaders.

The protest march, which began from Channapet in Old Hubballi, was led by Mr. Bellad, BJP legislators Mahesh Tenginakai and Pradeep Shettar, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik, and several other leaders. Activists sang bhajans as the procession moved, with leaders announcing that the goal was to recover the temple pond. The atmosphere was initially peaceful, with participants carrying placards and raising slogans against the alleged encroachment.

While the police had allowed a peaceful protest at a designated venue, the situation became tense when protesters attempted to push through barricades to march towards the temple premises. Police foiled the attempt and detained the leaders along with scores of activists, including women, who were taken away from the site in buses. The detentions were made after repeated warnings to disperse, according to officials.

Speaking to reporters after his detention, Mr. Tenginakai said that the protest was only the beginning and that they would continue their agitation until the temple land was recovered. Mr. Mutalik accused the municipal commissioner and officials of the archaeological department of acting under pressure from the Congress government to benefit the minority community. His statement could not be independently verified, and no official response was immediately available from the municipal authorities or the state government.

The protest also caused inconvenience to residents of Asar Honda and nearby areas, as several roads remained blocked for vehicular movement until 10 a.m., leading to traffic congestion in Old Hubballi for some time. Local traders and commuters expressed frustration over the sudden road closures, though police said the measures were necessary to maintain order.

Temple ponds, or pushkaranis, are considered sacred in many parts of Karnataka and are often used for ritual bathing and other religious ceremonies. Disputes over civic infrastructure projects encroaching on such sites have arisen in the past, highlighting the tension between urban development and heritage preservation. In this case, the Pushkarani Samrakshana Samiti maintains that the road alignment would permanently damage the pond, while the municipal authorities have not yet publicly detailed their plans.

Legal experts suggest that such disputes are best resolved through dialogue between religious groups, civic bodies, and heritage conservationists, ensuring that both development needs and religious sentiments are respected. As of this report, the detained leaders had not been formally charged, and further protest plans remain unclear.