Srirangapatna, 3 Dec 

Security was heightened in Srirangapatna in Mandya district after devotees tried Hanuma Mala devotees attempted to storm the Jamia Masjid during the Hanuman Jayanthi celebrations on Wednesday. 

Hundreds of people from various districts and neighbouring states came to participate in the yatra organised by the Hindu Jagran Vedike (HJV) and other organisations. When the procession reached the mosque, several people tried to storm the building, while others stayed on the road. Police managed to bring the situation under control, and there were no additional reports of violence at the time of publishing. 

The yatra is a sensitive issue as the HJV has claimed that an Anjaneya (Hanuman) temple in the town was destroyed during Tipu Sultan’s reign. They claim that the Jamia Masjid, built in 1786, was constructed over the temple. The HJV wants to reconstruct the temple.

A similar situation occurred in 2022 when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) gave a call to perform a pooja inside the mosque. 

District Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi said additional police personnel would be deployed in the town and at least a hundred CCTV cameras would be installed. 

Police would keep vigil in sensitive areas.