Hindu Jagarana Vedike holds bandh against Chaithtra Kundapura in DK’s temple town

Subramanya (DK), Oct 25: A day after a local leader of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) was assaulted allegedly by the aides of Chaithtra Kundapura, a firebrand figure of ‘Hindutva’ over a religious controversy, a massive protest was held on Thursday at Subramanya, a temple town in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.

Guruprasad Panja, Sullia taluk secretary of HJV was hospitalised on Wednesday night after he was attacked with an iron rod following a heated on-camera argument with Chaithra on the street.

Chaithra, a young journalist-turned-Hindutva chauvinist, who is known for her aggressive Kannada speeches, had reportedly earned the wrath of a section of local Hindus by criticising the ritual of ‘Sarpa Samskara’ at Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple.

Affectionately called as “tigress” among her followers in coastal Karnataka, Chaithra had in fact endorsed the stance of Samputa Narasimha Mutt. This had reportedly led to mudslinging between her and HJV leader on social media.

On Wednesday evening, Chaithra along with a group of supporters confronted Guruprasad and his aides at Kashi-katte near Subramanya. Amidst the heated exchange of words between two groups, one of the men in Chaithra’s group hit Guruprasad with an iron rod.

The police, who reached the spot after the climax, took Chaithra and her supporters into custody. A profusely bleeding Guruprasad was taken to a private hospital for treatment.

On Thursday, hundreds of local Hindu took out a protest rally at Subramanya and raised slogan against Chaithra and demanded action against her. Most of the shops were remained closed in the town in the day in response to the bandh call given by the HJV against the attack.

Also Read: ‘Saviours of Hindutva’ attack each other; 7 including Chaitra Kundapura taken into custody