Over 100 people gather at Karnataka's Kalburgi for a chariot pulling festival defying COVID-19 lockdown
Kalburgi/IBNS: In another incident of blatant defiance of lockdown norms, a large number of people gathered at a temple in one of Karnataka's COVID-19 hotspots Kalburgi, said media reports.
Devotees gathered at Siddalingeshwara temple to located in Ravoor village of Kalaburagi district to participate in chariot pulling festival, despite strict government orders against mass gatherings amid COVID-19 lockdown, said a Times Now report.
The report said Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police Lada Martin Maebanian has confirmed that at least 100-150 people gathered near Siddalingeshwara temple today around 6:30 am for about 20 minutes and participated in the chariot pulling festival.
Karnataka has reported 315 COVID-19 cases with 13 deaths. Kalburgi district has 20 coronavirus cases with three deaths so far.
Reportedly, the temple officials were warned against organising the festival. Though the festival is usually organised in the evenings, it was done in the morning to avoid the police, said the reports.
Media reports said 20 people have been charged in the case and police are investigating how the event was organised despite a complete ban on religious gatherings amid lockdown. The temple authorities had given in writing that they would tone down the celebrations and cancel the chariot pulling ceremony, they added.
Five organisers have been arrested and two officials, including a policeman, have been suspended, said the reports.
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