<p class="bodytext">Members of the Christian community have decided to stage a protest on Sunday condemning the alleged demolition of a shrine with the Grotto of Our Lady of Velankanni at Kulalu Kuntrakala, Vittal, Bantwal taluk.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A delegation led by SDPI National Secretary Alphonso Franco met the parish priest and Christian community leaders on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Franco said that the Grotto was constructed in 1970 but demolished recently by unidentified miscreants. “The parish priest of Kanyana had set up a small shrine on the spot 48 years ago. Devotees from three churches in and around Vittal offered candles at the shrine every Sunday,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The miscreants not only demolished both the shrine and the Grotto, but also took away a gate and small offering box at the Grotto. This is an incident of murder of democracy. Miscreants should be arrested immediately,” he demanded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MLC Ivan D'Souza visited the spot and collected information from the members of the community. He said, “Demolition is a condemnable act. Legal action should be initiated against those who are behind the demolition of grotto.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Condemning the incident and urging the government to rebuild a shrine with a Grotto of Our Lady of Velankani at the same place, special prayers will be offered at churches in Salethooru, Kanyana and Vijayadka on Sunday morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Later, a protest will be staged, informed Franco.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bantwal SDPI committee also condemned the incident.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The police arrested two persons in connection with the demolition of the Grotto and erecting Koragajjana Katte with a saffron flag around it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The arrested are Jayaram Naik and Monappa Naik.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">Cop suspended</p>.<p>Dakshina Kannada SP Ravikanthe Gowda suspended constable Ashok of Vittal police station, who was assigned to patrol the area and collect intelligence on incidents that would pose a threat to peace and harmony in society.</p>.<p>Ashok has been placed under suspension on the grounds of dereliction of duty.</p>.<p>The incident had taken place at Kulal near Kolnadu in Bantwal taluk on the night of September 27. Ashok as a beat police constable had failed to collect information on the row that broke out at the disputed land.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Members of the Christian community have decided to stage a protest on Sunday condemning the alleged demolition of a shrine with the Grotto of Our Lady of Velankanni at Kulalu Kuntrakala, Vittal, Bantwal taluk.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A delegation led by SDPI National Secretary Alphonso Franco met the parish priest and Christian community leaders on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Franco said that the Grotto was constructed in 1970 but demolished recently by unidentified miscreants. “The parish priest of Kanyana had set up a small shrine on the spot 48 years ago. Devotees from three churches in and around Vittal offered candles at the shrine every Sunday,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The miscreants not only demolished both the shrine and the Grotto, but also took away a gate and small offering box at the Grotto. This is an incident of murder of democracy. Miscreants should be arrested immediately,” he demanded.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MLC Ivan D'Souza visited the spot and collected information from the members of the community. He said, “Demolition is a condemnable act. Legal action should be initiated against those who are behind the demolition of grotto.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Condemning the incident and urging the government to rebuild a shrine with a Grotto of Our Lady of Velankani at the same place, special prayers will be offered at churches in Salethooru, Kanyana and Vijayadka on Sunday morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Later, a protest will be staged, informed Franco.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bantwal SDPI committee also condemned the incident.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The police arrested two persons in connection with the demolition of the Grotto and erecting Koragajjana Katte with a saffron flag around it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The arrested are Jayaram Naik and Monappa Naik.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">Cop suspended</p>.<p>Dakshina Kannada SP Ravikanthe Gowda suspended constable Ashok of Vittal police station, who was assigned to patrol the area and collect intelligence on incidents that would pose a threat to peace and harmony in society.</p>.<p>Ashok has been placed under suspension on the grounds of dereliction of duty.</p>.<p>The incident had taken place at Kulal near Kolnadu in Bantwal taluk on the night of September 27. Ashok as a beat police constable had failed to collect information on the row that broke out at the disputed land.</p>