Ballari (Karnataka), Feb 6 (NationPress) Tension flared in Karnataka's Ballari city on Friday morning when a plastic bag filled with meat and bones was discovered within the grounds of the Veera Balanjaneya (Hanuman) Temple situated in the Nagalakeri area. The unsettling find was first reported by the temple priest during the early hours.

Initial police investigations suggest that the plastic bag may have been discarded within the temple grounds around 5:45 AM. Upon noticing the bag, the priest promptly contacted the police.

In the wake of the incident, numerous devotees gathered at the temple, fearing that it was a deliberate act meant to offend religious sentiments. Law enforcement quickly arrived at the scene, removed the bag, and initiated an inquiry.

Local residents and devotees expressed their belief that the act was intentional and called for stringent actions against the individuals responsible. However, police are also exploring the possibility that the bag may have been brought into the temple by street dogs.

Activists from the Hindu community indicated that such incidents have been increasingly common in Ballari district, raising significant concerns. They emphasized that the temple is a prominent site in Ballari, drawing large crowds of devotees daily.

BJP leaders and Hindutva activists accused miscreants of breaching the temple's compound wall and discarding the plastic bag. Although no forensic tests have been conducted on the meat, there are suspicions that it might be beef.

The activists dismissed the theory of street dogs transporting the meat inside, arguing that dogs typically carry bones away rather than leave them behind. They insisted that the manner in which the bag was thrown likely caused it to tear, resulting in meat and large bones being strewn about the temple.

They stressed that this incident has deeply wounded the sentiments of devotees, demanding the identification and arrest of the culprits within 24 hours, with severe repercussions for them.

The Veera Balanjaneya Temple is a historic site that features idols of Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Ayyappa, and Lord Shiva. During the holy Vaikunta Ekadashi festival, thousands of devotees turn to this temple when they are unable to make the pilgrimage to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Activists claimed the act was executed with the intent to insult the temple's religious significance.

Authorities have increased surveillance in the area and confirmed that a thorough investigation is ongoing. More information is expected to surface regarding this troubling event.