Date:22/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102259790600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Police to keep hawk’s eye on Devaragattu fete

D. Srinivasulu

1,000 police personnel deployed at the temple
Intensive search carried out in surrounding villages

ALURU (Kurnool dist.): The district administration has geared itself for the peaceful conduct of Mala Malleshwaraswamy fete on the hillock at Devaragattu near here in Kurnool district.

Acting upon a directive from the State Human Rights Commission, the civil administration and the police made elaborate arrangements to prevent bloodshed during ‘Bunni’ rituals in which several hundreds of devotees fight each other with clubs, causing injuries. ‘Bunni’ rituals take place between midnight of Sunday and into the wee hours of Monday.

The police deployed over 1,000 personnel at the temple and set up 12 checkposts to ensure that the devotees did not carry even sticks up the hillocks.

Special teams carried out intensive search operations in surrounding villages and seized a large number of sticks and clubs. The uniformed police are also equipped with helmets to safeguard their heads while discharging their duties.

Heavy rain

Meanwhile, heavy rain that lashed Aluru and Devaragattu on Sunday dampened the spirits of revellers. But, the locals said the turnout of devotees would be heavy this year because of the undue publicity given by the district administration to the rituals. They felt that this had led to a rise in curiosity levels that would surely bring more number of people than usual.

Elders said the rituals were not as violent as made out to be by the media. They were primarily only a mock fight and the injuries were caused accidentally, they said.