Bajrang Dal activists vandalise venue hosting Holi celebrations, 6 held

Bajrang Dal activists vandalise venue hosting Holi celebrations, 6 held

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 26, 2023: Six Bajrang Dal activists were booked and several others detained in Mangaluru after they vandalised the venue of an event held in connection with Holi celebrationsin on Sunday.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Kuldeep Kumar Jain identified the accused in custody as Ganesh Attavar, Jai Prasanth, Balchander, Akshay, Chirag and Mithun. The commissioner told media persons that permission was granted to the organisers to conduct the event under certain conditions. “If anyone had issues, they could have approached the police. But taking the law into one’s hands cannot be tolerated,” he said.

According to police sources, the programme was scheduled to be held between 10 am and 7 pm and it began around noon. The organisers had taken police permission for the event. Around 2 pm, some Bajrang Dal activists barged into the venue where a heated exchange ensued with the organisers amid allegations that non-Hindus were also participating in the celebrations.

The police said the men vandalised the venue and damaged posters and other materials. A video of the incident went viral in which one of the Bajrang Dal men is seen saying, “We had told you softly to stop the programme, but you did not listen to us. Don’t bring the names of MPs and MLAs here. We will stop the programme at any cost.”

Soon after the incident, Kankanady police rushed to the spot and took the activists in custody. The police have registered a case based on a complaint by the organiser.

This is the second incident in recent days in which Bajrang Dal members have attacked venues where Holi celebrations were being held. A few days ago, a group of activists from the outfit barged into a private hotel in Shivamogga, where a women’s DJ party was being held in connection with Holi celebrations, and asserted that it was “not part of Indian culture”. However, no complaint was filed and the police did not initiate any action.