Belagavi, Karnataka: Belagavi witnessed a massive protest on Friday following the burning of religious books in Santi Bastwad earlier this week. Miscreants allegedly stole and set fire to sacred texts from an under-construction place of worship on Sunday night. The charred remains were discovered in a nearby field the next morning.
In response to the incident, community members and various organizations staged a peaceful rally near Chennamma Circle, demanding immediate action. Several shops in the area remained closed during the protest. Protesters condemned the desecration and urged the Belagavi police to swiftly identify and arrest the culprits.
Amid mounting pressure, Belagavi Rural Police Inspector Manjunath Hiremath was suspended for dereliction of duty, as the incident occurred within his jurisdiction.
To maintain law and order, authorities imposed prohibitory orders in the area and deployed nearly 3,000 police personnel across the city. Despite the heightened security, the protest remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or unrest.
Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang assured the public that strict action would be taken and that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible for the act.
