Belagavi: Tension prevailed for some time in Machhe village near Belagavi after miscreants allegedly defaced the statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna on Thursday night by smearing it with black ink.

As the statue of Rayanna is already painted black, the act initially went unnoticed. However, a few local youths spotted the defacement later in the night and alerted others. Within minutes, several residents gathered at the spot, raising slogans and expressing their outrage.

Police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. Belagavi City Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and DCP Narayan Bharamani visited the location and conducted an inspection. Local residents surrounded the officials and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.

“Rayanna is not just a historical figure; he is a symbol of our identity. The insult to his statue cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. CCTV footage must be examined and the accused arrested immediately,” Kannada activists asserted.

As a precautionary measure, additional police security has been deployed in Machhe village. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Source: Vartha Bharathi (Translate in english)