Police nab man for attacking Karaga bearer

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Halasuru Gate police arrested a JP Nagar resident, Adinarayanan, on charges of attempt-to-murder against Karaga-bearer Jnanendra.

Jnanendra filed a complaint against the offender on April 6, alleging that the accused and others showered flowers on him that were allegedly laced with some chemical, to which he suffered minor burn injuries on his neck and parts of his torso. While the police nabbed the accused and further investigations are on, the managing committee of the Swami Dharmaraya Temple, in a press meeting, demanded action against the accused.

Sathish, president of the committee, said, “It is a tradition to shower flowers during the procession but they threw chemicals. It is not right. We have received information that the accused is Adinarayana. It is painful. The investigations are on. Let there be stringent action against the guilty. However, we request everyone not speculate before the inquiry is complete," he said.

The Karnataka Tourism Department said, "The Karaga festival is held at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Bangalore. Just after dusk on the Karaga day between March and April, a priest dressed in female attire leads a spectacular procession, to the accompaniment of dazzling swordplay by several dhoti-clad, barechested Thigalars. On his head, he carries a flower-bedecked pyramid. A unique feature of the Karaga is the unbroken tradition of visiting the tomb of an 18thcentury Muslim saint," the department said.