The operation against illegal places of worship continued on Wednesday too. Two places of worship were removed on early hours amid tight police security.
An idol of Basava on BM road was evicted amid protests from a group around 2 am.The idol was removed as it was affecting traffic movement on B M Road.
The idol had been installed on the cattle fair land many years ago. The administration had decided to evict the idol citing traffic problems.
This act invited ire from a group of people who demanded that the Basava idol should be handed over to the community.
However, the CMC officials declined on the ground that the idol belonged to them as it had been installed on their groud. The idol would be consecrated in a suitable place, the officials added.
Dargah removed
A dargah situated on Old Post Office Road was also pulled down. The dargah, which was built beside Vani Vilas school, was also demolished with the help of the earth moving machine.
The operation passed off peacefully without any resistance from the community members.
Tahasildar Mathais said the drive would be continued till all the unauthorised places of worship were removed.
Drive begins in Mandya
The drive against illegal places of worship begun in Mandya Taluk from Wednesday.
The operation, being led by Tahsildar Dr R Rajendra Prasad, razed three places of worship. The demolition drive was done under police security at Bevinahalli, Kyathungere and Kothathi villages. Boredevaru and Kyathungere Anjaneyaswamy Temples, which were constructed by roads, were demolished. Scores of people watched the earth moving machinery pulling down the illegal structures. However, there was no resistance from anybody.
Tahsildar Rajendra Prasad told Deccan Herald that all the illegal places of worship would be removed as per directions of the Supreme Court.
He said the villagers were cooperating. The drive would be launched in Mandya city very soon. A few villagers opined that they have no objection if the district administration followed the apex court’s order.
However, the government should make alternative arrangements for the consecration of the displaced idols elsewhere.