Karnataka: Dalit man, son denied entry into Udupi temple
UDUPI: The ‘archak’ (priest) of a temple in Kambadakone village in Kundapur in Karnataka’s Udupi district was accused of denying entry and pooja to a dalit man and his son.
Complainant Shivarama, 51, a dalit from Halageri in Kambadakone, has stated in his complaint that he and his son were not allowed to enter the temple and offer pooja at Kokkeshwara Temple in Kambadakone.
Police said that Shivarama had been to the temple along with THe son at around 9.30am on Monday.
They also had taken ‘hannu kayi’ (offering banana and coconut), flowers and other pooja items to the temple.
When the father-son duo reached the temple, they found priest Shashagiri Karanth near the ‘garbha gudi’ (sanctum sanctorum).
The complainant has accused the archak of stopping them and turning down his request to offer pooja for him.
Shivarama also has accused the archak of abusing him and son by their caste name while rejecting entry to the temple and refusing to offer pooja, police said.
Byndoor Police has registered a case under Sections 3 (1)(r), (s), (y), (za), (C) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused.
Courtesy : TOI
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