Temple row erupts in Karnataka as pre-wedding shoot triggers assault

Tension flared in Karnataka’s Bhairaveshwara Temple after a pre-wedding photoshoot turned violent, with photographers allegedly assaulted by locals over claims they entered the shrine wearing shoes.

The incident, reported from Maragunda village in Sakleshpur taluk, left four to five photographers injured. They were later treated at a nearby taluk hospital. The photographers claimed they were attacked without provocation, alleging that their cameras and mobile phones were also damaged during the assault.

Locals, however, defended their actions, accusing the group of disrespecting the temple’s sanctity. They said the growing trend of tourist activity and pre-wedding shoots at the site was causing environmental degradation and violating traditional dress and conduct norms. Residents urged authorities to step in and safeguard the temple as a religious centre.

The fallout quickly escalated. Injured photographers approached the police, but alleged that no FIR was registered. In response, hundreds of photographers assembled outside the Sakleshpur Rural Police Station, staging a protest that soon turned tense.

A heated exchange between photographers and locals led to brief scuffles, with pushing and shoving reported outside the police station. Police personnel struggled to bring the situation under control as high drama unfolded.

The Hassan District Photographers’ Association has demanded strict action against those responsible for the assault. Amid competing claims from both sides, police have launched an investigation into the incident.