None from the Mumbai Iskcon team turned up at the temple, though the Bangalore Iskcon temple authorities had anticipated it.
But tension was visible on the faces of Bangalore Iskcon temple authorities and many of them were seen keeping a strict vigil. Many of the devotees clad in white and saffron robes were seen hovering near the main entrance to prevent any forcible entry into the temple. As a precautionary measure, the police had deployed additional forces to ensure law and order in the area.
Tight security
The top police brass held a special meeting to review security situation in and around the temple. “The police will not yield to pressure of any sort and will act as per the High Court directives. We will sternly deal with those who try to create violence,” said a senior officer.
“The incident which took place Friday evening had no impact on devotees. Thousands of them visited the temple and participated in religious programmes. Nothing has hampered routine rituals inside the temple. Devotees will teach a befitting lesson to those who try to defame Bangalore Iskcon,” a Bangalore Iskcon representative told Deccan Herald.
On Friday, tension prevailed for hours outside the temple premises, when a team from Mumbai Iskcon tried to take control of the temple premises.
However, they failed in their attempt as Bangalore Iskcon team had converted the temple into a virtual fortress. The police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Additional forces were deployed to thwart any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, the Iskcon controversy took an interesting turn on Saturday with a few Bangalore Iskcon devotees and donors approaching a city civil court, seeking peaceful continuation of religious rituals at the temple premises.
They filed a public representative suit in the court making Bangalore Iskcon, Mumbai Iskcon and Principal Secretary to the State Home Department defendants.
They sought from the court a permanent injunction restraining the defendants (three parties) from interfering with the rights and privileges of devotees of Bangalore Iskcon, their activities and all incidental religious rights enjoyed by them in the scheduled property area till now. They have also sought other reliefs, advocate Anand S said.
The court allowed the application for dispensing notice to the principal secretary to the Home Department and also directed the plaintiff to take the paper publication.
The Subramanyanagar police registered cases under Sections 143, 174,232,341, 504, 506 and 149 of the IPC against Madhu Pandita Dasa and a few others for allegedly manhandling Mumbai Iskcon representative Varadakrishna Dasa, following a complaint.