Karnataka: Priest beats temple's security guard 'of lesser caste' for touching donation box | VIDEO

Priest beats man of lower caste: In a shocking incident in which a priest at the Rangaswamy Temple in Taliyabetta, Kunigal taluk, Tumakuru district, Karnataka, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting and abusing a security staff member over a caste-related issue. The incident occurred after the security staffer, identified as Partharaju, reportedly touched the temple's hundi (donation box), which led to an altercation.

Complaint registered under SC/ST Act

Following the incident, Partharaju lodged a formal complaint against the priest, Rakesh, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The security guard accused the priest not only of caste-based abuse but also of physically assaulting him with a stick on the day of the event.

Video surfaces across social media

A video of the incident, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows priest Rakesh confronting Partharaju, questioning his presence in a government-managed temple and demanding that he leave. Based on this evidence, the Kunigal Police acted swiftly, arresting Rakesh for his actions.

This incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about ongoing caste discrimination issues, even in public spaces like temples. The authorities are continuing to investigate the matter.