Fury Erupts: Belagavi Tense After Vandalism of Sangolli Rayanna Statue

Imagine waking up to news that a cherished symbol of your heritage, a monument to a revered freedom fighter, has been defiled. That's precisely the unsettling reality that dawned on the residents of Peeranwadi village in Karnataka's Belagavi district this past Monday morning. A statue of Sangolli Rayanna, a figure deeply embedded in local pride and history, was found desecrated, immediately casting a pall of tension over the usually quiet community.

It wasn't just minor damage, mind you. The vandals had quite deliberately broken off the hands and sword of the statue. As if that wasn't enough, they removed its traditional garland and, in a deeply offensive act, placed slippers upon it. This wasn't just random destruction; it felt like a pointed insult, a calculated act designed to provoke, striking right at the heart of local sentiment and respect.

As you can imagine, news spread like wildfire, and the immediate response was one of profound anger and hurt. Pro-Kannada organizations, notably the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and the Kannada Gadi Horata Samiti, swiftly mobilized. Their outrage manifested in spontaneous protests, blocking traffic on key routes like National Highway 4 – a clear, undeniable sign of how deeply this incident resonated. The message was clear: this insult to Sangolli Rayanna would not be tolerated, and justice was demanded, and demanded quickly.

Responding to the escalating situation, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar arrived on the scene, condemning the act unequivocally. She pleaded for calm, urging everyone to maintain peace, even as she promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. The police, under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Belagavi, Sanjeev Patil, also moved swiftly. An FIR has been registered, and investigations are well underway, with authorities assuring a thorough probe to identify and apprehend those responsible.

For those unfamiliar, Sangolli Rayanna isn't just a name; he's a legendary 19th-century warrior, a loyal commander under Kittur Rani Chennamma. His courage in resisting British rule makes him an enduring symbol of defiance and patriotism in Karnataka. His legacy, naturally, evokes strong emotions, particularly in border regions like Belagavi, where identity and historical figures often become points of cultural pride and, at times, unfortunately, contention. This isn't the first time his statues have become targets; they've regrettably been at the heart of disputes in the past, often linked to inter-state border sentiments.

Currently, a palpable tension hangs heavy over Peeranwadi. A significant police presence remains in the village, tasked with preventing any further escalation and ensuring public order. While calls for peace echo across the region, there's also an undeniable demand for swift action, for the authorities to identify and punish those responsible for this deeply disrespectful act. The hope, of course, is that calm will prevail and that this incident will not be allowed to further inflame already sensitive regional sentiments, but instead, lead to a renewed call for unity and respect for all shared heritage.