A newly married Dalit couple was allegedly humiliated and stopped from entering the Arasamma temple in Goni village, Tumakuru, Karnataka. A man named Narayanappa was arrested on Saturday for allegedly forcing the couple to leave the temple.
The couple, Pankaja and Puneeth, had gone to the temple after their wedding to seek blessings when Narayanappa confronted them. According to police, he pretended to be possessed by a deity and shouted at the couple, saying, “Dalits cannot enter the temple. You go and perform your puja elsewhere. Leave immediately.” A video of the incident has been widely circulated on social media.
Complaint Filed Under SC/ST Act
Pankaja’s younger brother, Jagadish, filed a complaint at the Turuvekere police station. A senior police officer said, “Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and arrested Narayanappa.” The FIR also names several others who allegedly supported the act of untouchability, and police continue to search for the remaining suspects.
Community and Administrative Response
Officials, including Tahasildar NA Kunhi Ahmed and Deputy SP Omprakash, held a peace meeting in the village, bringing together Dalit residents and other community members. They used the opportunity to raise awareness about the legal consequences of untouchability and to promote harmony.
Earlier Incidents in Karnataka
The incident comes shortly after unrest in Bagalkote during the Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti procession. Bagalkote Superintendent of Police Sidharth Goel said, “Eight persons have been arrested in connection with stone pelting and slipper throwing during the grand procession. The incident occurred before the procession reached a mosque. No serious injuries were reported.”
Authorities said that despite the disturbances, both the temple and the procession incidents are being handled under the law to ensure peace and prevent communal tension.
