Date:30/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/30/stories/2006053022440300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

People protest against demolition of arch

Staff Reporter

It was pulled down allegedly by supporters of a former Union Minister

BANGALORE: Hundreds of people on Monday staged a demonstration in front of the Whitefield police station to protest the demolition of the entrance arch of Sri Karumariamma Temple allegedly by the supporters of former Union Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief.

Tension prevailed in the area for some time as the protesters took out a procession from near the temple to the Whitefield police station. Most of the shops and business establishments in Whitefield remained close till afternoon.

The protesters demanded that the police arrest those who had razed the arch. They dispersed after senior police officials assured them that the issue would be solved amicably. On Saturday night, a group of people allegedly pulled down the structure that had come up in front of the temple. The temple administration on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Whitefield police in this regard.

Mr. Sharief told The Hindu that an arch had been constructed on a property belonging to his family, which had left a portion of their land for road widening. The temple authorities had constructed the arch on that piece of land, he alleged. The arch was not in front of the temple but at a distance, he said.

As some residents had complained to him that the arch was causing inconvenience to the public, he went there and got it demolished in the presence of the police, Mr. Sharief said.