A day after a Dalit man was denied entry into a temple in Karnataka’s Kavanadala village on the basis of his caste, causing furore on social media, the district officials on May 11, ushered the victim into the temple after holding peace talks with the aggressors. A case is yet to be filed against the members of Vokkaliga community who restricted the entry of 25-year old Swaminath.
On May 10, Swaminath, a resident of Kavanadala village in Madhugiri taluk, belonging to a Scheduled Caste, attempted to enter the Ramanjaneya temple on May 10 to offer prayers. However, he was stopped by members of the dominant Vokkaliga community.
The next day, a video of the incident surfaced on X, triggering widespread condemnation online. A man in the video can be heard saying, “From time immemorial, your caste has not come inside the temple.” Swaminath is seen responding, “Why should I stay outside if everyone else is allowed in? Doesn’t the Constitution guarantee equal opportunity?”.
The video of the incident went viral prompting the intervention of the district administration.
Additional Superintendent of Police C Gopal told TNM that senior district police officials, including Tahsildar Shireen Taj, and Assistant Director of the Social Welfare Department Dinesh, visited the village to resolve the conflict.
“After a peace committee meeting was held both Swaminath and the members of Vokkaliga community went inside the temple and performed a pooja,” said Manjunath, Inspector of Badavanahalli police station.
The ASP clarified that no FIR has been filed against the offenders. “Swaminath has not made a decision about pressing charges. We have issued a verbal warning to residents and made it clear that barring temple access on caste lines is a punishable offence,” he said.
The district police administration has said it will keep a close watch on the situation to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.