In a tragic sequence of events, a viral picture of Lord Ganesha’s idol locked inside a police van sent waves of grief and frustration across social media platforms. This distressing image came to light amidst violent attacks on Hindus by radical Muslim mobs in Nagamangala village, located in the Mandya district of Karnataka.

The disturbing image began circulating shortly after these radical mobs unleashed chaos in Mandya, targeting the peaceful immersion ceremony of Lord Ganesha on the night of Wednesday, 11th September. In an act of disrespect, stones were hurled at the sacred idol, shaking the local community to its core.

By Friday, 13th September, another image captured the attention of the online world. This time, it showed a police officer carefully transporting the idol of Lord Ganesha to safety. However, instead of seeing the idol in its rightful place within a temple, it was seen locked up in a police van, further igniting emotional responses from the Hindu community.

As the images continued to spread, speculation grew over the origin of this particular incident. Many assumed the scene was part of the unrest in Mandya, but it soon became clear that this heartbreaking episode occurred in Bengaluru, not Mandya.

According to a report by OneIndia, the confiscation of Lord Ganesha’s idol happened during a protest in Bengaluru. The protest was held by Hindus who were condemning the atrocities committed against their community in Mandya. During this protest, which took place in the Town Hall area, 40 Hindus were arrested by Bengaluru police for demonstrating without the necessary permission. The protest had been organized by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Ganesh Utsav Committee, further highlighting the deep cultural and religious significance tied to this event.

Following the arrest of Hindu protestors, the Bengaluru police took possession of the Lord Ganesha idol, removing it from the demonstrators and placing it inside a caged police vehicle. During the tense moments of the protest, photographers on the scene captured this symbolic image, showing the Hindu deity as if being ‘arrested’ by the local police.

A police officer, while speaking to OneIndia, explained the situation: “The group of people attempted to protest in front of the Town Hall without permission. As a precautionary measure, about 40 individuals were taken into custody.” This statement clarified that the arrests were made to prevent further unrest, though it did little to calm the growing anger among the Hindu community, who saw the handling of the idol as an affront to their faith.

The situation took a political turn when Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya publicly criticized the local authorities and the Congress-led Karnataka government. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), he condemned the actions, expressing outrage over the treatment of the idol. In his tweet, Surya stated: “This visual of Lord Ganesha in a police vehicle is terrifying. Why is the Congress hell-bent on insulting our deities, & belittling the belief and faith of millions of Hindus?” His words fueled further debates online, where many shared his concerns about the perceived disrespect shown towards Hindu religious symbols.

Actually, tensions in Nagamangala, Mandya district, had escalate after a procession carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha was attacked by a group of miscreants. The violence began when stones were reportedly thrown at the procession from a location near a mosque. This initial act of aggression triggered a series of violent reactions, leading to the destruction of six shops, which were set ablaze in the aftermath. In an effort to contain the violence, local authorities imposed Section 144—a law that prohibits gatherings in public spaces—until midnight on 14th September.

The escalating violence also led to a suspension of normal activities in the region, with schools and colleges declaring a holiday as a safety measure. Despite these precautions, the unrest continued late into the night, with police detaining multiple individuals in connection with the disturbances, both on Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday.

On 13th September, Friday, the Mandya police allegedly took the drastic step of 'arresting' a Ganesh idol, which ignited widespread outrage among Hindu communities in the region. The image of the idol in police custody quickly became a point of contention, as it was circulated extensively by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Although neither the police nor the media have officially verified these claims, the viral images have added fuel to growing discontent against the Congress-led government in Karnataka.

The chaos began on 12th September, during a Ganesh procession that was violently disrupted by an aggressive mob. The mob targeted homes, shops, and vehicles, causing significant destruction. Among the shops damaged were a utensil store and a bangle shop, both of which were reduced to debris. As per reports from The New Indian Express, goods worth several lakhs, including decorative items, were completely destroyed, leaving the town shrouded in smoke and panic.

One of the most devastating losses was suffered by a textile merchant whose shop, valued at a staggering Rs 1.5 crore, was entirely burned down during the mob attack. Additionally, 13 smaller establishments were damaged amidst the chaos, leaving many local business owners devastated by the sudden and violent destruction of their livelihoods.

The situation grew so intense that the police had to step in and attempt to disperse the unruly crowd. However, due to the overwhelming number of people involved, the police were forced to resort to a lathi-charge—a method of crowd control where batons are used to break up violent groups. This measure helped in restoring some order, but it also led to further unrest. In response, local residents gathered and staged a protest outside the police station, expressing their frustration and demanding justice for the destruction caused during the procession.

Cop Suspended, Intel Chief Transferred Over Ganpati Procession Violence in Karnataka

In the aftermath of the violent clashes that erupted during a Ganesh idol procession in Nagamangala, Karnataka's Mandya district, swift actions were taken by the authorities. A police inspector has been suspended for dereliction of duty, and the state's intelligence head has been transferred, as the government responds to public outrage over the incident.

Police Inspector Ashok Kumar, who was stationed at the Nagamangala town police station, faced suspension on Thursday evening for failing to prevent the violence. The Superintendent of Police (SP) Mallikarjun Baldandi confirmed the action to news agency PTI, indicating that Inspector Kumar’s lack of adequate response contributed to the escalation of the situation.

Additionally, the Karnataka government took further action on Friday, transferring the intelligence head, Sharath Chandra, in the wake of the unrest. Hemanth Nimbalkar has been appointed as the new intelligence chief, taking over from Chandra to address the security failures that led to the violence during the Ganesh procession in Nagamangala.

The clashes that broke out on Wednesday night were triggered by tensions between two groups as the procession moved along the main road. Stones were thrown at the participants, allegedly from near a mosque, sparking the violent outburst. The incident sent shockwaves through the community and further escalated tensions between religious groups in the area.

While the situation had calmed by Friday, the local authorities continued to take precautionary measures to prevent further unrest. Additional police forces were deployed in the town to maintain peace, and prohibitory orders—restricting the assembly of more than four people—were imposed until Saturday, 14th September. These steps were taken to ensure that no further violence would erupt in the days following the clashes.

Meanwhile, the police arrested three more individuals, raising the total number of people detained in connection with the violence to 55. Out of these, the 52 people initially arrested were placed in judicial custody for 14 days, according to police officials.

On Friday, Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who represents Mandya in the Lok Sabha, visited the town to assess the situation. Prior to his visit, on Thursday, Kumaraswamy issued a strong condemnation of the violence and criticized the Congress government in Karnataka for failing to maintain order.

He stated, “It is proof of 'failure of law and order' in the town that the miscreants of a community deliberately raised a ruckus by targeting the devotees who were walking peacefully in the procession of Lord Ganpati, throwing stones and slippers on the public and policemen, exploding petrol bombs and brandishing swords.” His remarks underscored the gravity of the violence and the extent of the chaos that had unfolded during the Ganpati procession.

WHY CLASHES OCCURRED?

According to police reports, the violent clashes stemmed from an argument that erupted between two groups during the Ganesh idol procession on Wednesday night. The procession, led by devotees from Badarikoppalu village, passed by a mosque, at which point some miscreants began hurling stones, escalating tensions and igniting the unrest.

In the wake of the clashes, several shops were vandalized, goods were set ablaze, and vehicles were torched, leaving significant destruction in the town. The police confirmed that two policemen and several civilians were injured during the violent outbreak.

In an effort to regain control over the situation, the police were forced to use mild force to disperse the crowd and bring the violence to an end. Despite the use of force, the damage had already been done, with the community left reeling from the destruction.

The authorities have since registered a case involving charges of unlawful assembly, attempt to murder, obstruction of public servants, destruction of public property, and other sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This legal action is part of the broader effort to bring those responsible for the violence to justice and restore peace in the troubled area.