20 injured as villagers clash over temple

Sircilla (Karimnagar): A dispute over a temple here saw a pitched battle between people from two villages, resulting in injuries several persons. The condition of the five of the injures is stated to be critical. Women were also among the injured.

Sri Renuka Yellamma temple is located in Mallapur village in Karimnagar district. The Mallapur village falls under the limits of Jillella village panchayat in Sircilla mandal. Jillella Village Gowda Sangham has been conducting pooja at the temple for the last several years.

However, recently Mallapur was separated from Jillella panchayat and it was merged with Indira Nagar village panchayat. There has been a dispute over the temple between people of Jillella and Mallapur villages for the last six months. People of Mallapur contended that they used to take care of the temple as it is situated in their village. While those at Jillella village state that since Gowda Sangham was conducting prayers at the temple since its construction, they would look after the maintenance of the temple. The villagers brought the issue to the notice of Minister K Taraka Rama Rao. The Minister constituted a committee to resolve the issue in the presence of elders from both the villages and RDO.

Meanwhile, leaders of Gowda Sangham approached the court. When the priest arrived at the temple on Sunday, people of Mallapur objected. On learning about the priest being prevented from entering the temple, people of Jillella rushed to Mallapur. Initially, people of both villages had a verbal duel. Later, as tempers flared they attacked each other with sticks and stones. The rival groups also sprayed chilli powder at each other. Twenty persons were injured in the clash. They were immediately admitted to the Area Hospital at Sircilla. A few of them who sustained severe injuries were shifted to Karimnagar Hospital. The local villagers complained that the police failed to immediately respond to their complaint over the clash.