Protesting against what they termed as encroachment of temple pond to lay road, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad, BJP legislators Mahesh Tenginakai, Pradeep Shettar, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik and scores of BJP and Hindutva activists courted arrest in Hubballi on Saturday (August 22, 2026).
The protest call was given to ‘recover the pushkarani (temple pond)’ of Bhavani Shankar and Narayan Temple at Asar Honda in Old Hubballi, which according to ‘Pushkarani Samrakshana Samiti’ has been allegedly encroached upon by municipal authorities to lay road. The Samiti had given the call to reclaim the temple land.
BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai being rounded up during a protest to ‘reclaim temple land’ in old Hubballi on August 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
Prohibitory orders
Ahead of the protest, the Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner had clamped prohibitory orders in the radius of 500 metres around the temple premises as a precautionary measure and a huge posse of police personnel was deployed in Old Hubballi. All roads leading to the Bhavani Shankar and Narayan Temple were also barricaded.
As announced, the protest march began from Channapet in Old Hubballi where scores of BJP and Hindutva activists had congregated well in advance. BJP leadera Arvind Bellad, Mahesh Tenginakai, Pradeep Shettar, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muttalik, Sudhakar Shetty and Dattamurthy Kulkarni of ‘Temple Pond Protection Committee’ and a host of other leaders led the protest march during which bhajans were sung. Before beginning the march, the speakers announced that their sole objective was to recover the temple pond encroached upon by the authorities.
A woman activist raises slogan while being detained during a protest to ‘reclaim temple land’ in old Hubballi on August 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
Peaceful protest turns tense
The police had permitted the Samiti to carry out a peaceful protest at the designated venue. However, trouble started after the protestors tried to push the barricades in a bid to march towards the temple premises. As sloganeering reached its peak, activists tried to push their way through. But their attempt was foiled by the huge number of police personnel deployed at the venue.
One by one, the leaders were detained along with scores of protestors, including woman activists, and were taken away from the protest site in buses.
Police personnel attempt to control BJP leaders and Hindutva activists during a protest to ‘reclaim temple land’ in old Hubballi on August 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
Speaking to presspersons Mr. Mahesh Tenginakai announced that they had just launched the protest to recover the temple land and would continue it till the land was reclaimed. Mr. Pramod Mutalik accused the municipal commissioner and officials of archaeological department of acting under the pressure of Congress government to extend benefit to minority community.
Because of the protest, residents of Asar Honda and adjoining localities faced hardships as several roads remained blocked for vehicular movement till 10 a.m.. Traffic congestion was witnessed at Old Hubballi for some time.
