Tension gripped Macche village in Belagavi taluk late Thursday night after a black liquid substance was discovered smeared on the statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna. The incident triggered unrest in the area, prompting police to deploy additional personnel as a precautionary measure.
Locals noticed the defacement and immediately alerted the authorities. City Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase, DCP Narayan Baramani and other senior officials visited the spot to assess the situation. Police said it is yet to be determined whether the substance was deliberately poured, such as black oil or ink, or if it was residue from the tree to which the statue is attached. Samples have been collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.
The statue was cleaned immediately, and CCTV footage from a camera installed about 10 metres away is being scrutinised. A case has been registered at the Belagavi Rural Police Station, and an investigation is underway. Commissioner Borase confirmed that a complaint had been received and that efforts are on to identify those responsible.
The incident drew sharp reactions from Kannada organisations. Deepak Gudaganatti, district president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction), condemned the act, demanded swift action and warned of protests if the culprits are not arrested. A large number of residents gathered at the site following the incident.
The five-foot-tall black statue, installed around three years ago under a ‘basari gida’ tree, stands in front of the local town panchayat office. Considering Macche’s linguistic sensitivity and the timing coinciding with Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti, police are examining all possible angles.
