KANANAPURA : A peace meeting held to address the exclusion of Dalits from temple entry in Kunoor village, Kanakapura, turned violent on Thursday, escalating into a clash between two groups.
The dispute started last week when Dalits were allegedly denied entry to the Basaveshwara and Maramma temples. Despite efforts from the Taluk administration and local authorities to resolve the conflict through dialogue, tensions remained high.
The meeting, led by Tahsildar Manjunath and Circle Inspector K.L. Krishna, focused on the right of Dalits to access temples as per constitutional law. While some village leaders supported temple access for Dalits, others opposed it, citing the preservation of traditional customs. As the debate intensified, several upper-caste leaders walked out in protest.
Following the disrupted meeting, tensions boiled over into a physical altercation outside the Taluk office, forcing the police to intervene. Dalit leaders expressed frustration over the ongoing denial of temple access and lodged a complaint, demanding action against those responsible for instigating the conflict.
