Mysuru: Tense situation prevailed near the Sand Museum in Siddhartha Layout, as nearly 200 people staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused in the assault of the parents of city’s sand artist M. N. Gowri.

The protest was jointly organised by the Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Basava Balaga, Mysuru and BJP Yuva Morcha, near the Museum on Chamundi Hill Road this morning.

They also tried to enter the Kaveri Silk Udyog shop. The Police intervened and tried to prevent the mob from entering the shop. This enraged the protesters and there was heated exchange of words between them and the Police. Later, the Police asked the owner to close the shop. The protesters alleged that in spite of the attack on the parents of sand artist Gowri being captured on CCTV, the Police had failed to arrest the accused.

Nazarbad Police Inspector Shekar told the protesters that they needed time to arrest the accused. The crowd was enraged at this reply and they demanded the immediate arrest.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, near 50 Policemen led by Devaraja Sub-Division ACP B.S. Rajashekar arrived at the spot. The others who accompanied him included Alanahalli Inspector Shekar, Udayagiri Inspector Santosh and Lashkar Inspector H.R. Vivekananda.

Because of the tense situation, the traffic was disrupted on the road that leads to Chamundi Hill for nearly half-an-hour. The Siddartha Traffic Police finally brought the situation under control. Leaders Hinkal Basavaraju, Guruswamy, Corporator B. Manjunath, Jaishanker and Mysuru Travel Association President B.S. Prashanth and the mother of Gowri, Nagalambika, participated in the protest.

Background

The parents of sand artist M.N. Gowri were badly beaten up by a three-member group on Thursday. A case was registered in this regard at the Nazarbad Police Station. The couple Nanjundaswamy, 60 and Nagalambika, 55, who were attacked were undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Gowri has filed a complaint after the attack was captured on the CCTV camera installed at the Museum.

The youngsters brazenly attacked the couple in a display of hooliganism. The incident occurred around noon on Thursday. Gowri’s mother Nagalambika, who was engaged in the maintenance of sand sculptures, came out of the Museum when she heard some commotion.

On seeing her husband Nanjundaswamy being attacked, she tried to go to his rescue. The youths who were all said to be from a shop dealing in  silk and handicrafts in the neighbourhood beat her up badly, which was recorded on the CCTV cameras.