Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Bommai Demands Goonda Act Over Shiggaon Temple Desecration
A man was arrested after allegedly urinating inside a Hanuman temple in Shiggaon, Karnataka.
The incident happened while religious activities were taking place.
Basavaraj Bommai said the act was deliberate and very serious.
He asked police to use a strict law called the Goonda Act.
He also asked that the accused be removed from the district.
Hindu organisations called for a town shutdown, or bandh, on August 26.
Bommai said people from every community could join voluntarily and that the protest should not target anyone’s religion.
A state minister said the incident should not be made political, while Bommai criticised the government’s response.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai demanded Goonda Act charges and district banishment for the temple desecration accused.
Police arrested 31-year-old Mohammad Jaffer over allegations that he urinated inside Shiggaon’s Anjaneya Swamy Temple on August 21.
Bommai alleged the act was deliberate and accused police of attempting to downplay the incident.
He appealed to people of all communities to voluntarily support the Shiggaon bandh planned for August 26.
Bommai also accused the state government of failing to address other alleged crimes, illegal activities and the drought situation.
- Who
- Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai, the arrested accused Mohammad Jaffer, Karnataka police and local administration are central to the report.
- What
- Bommai demanded Goonda Act action and district banishment against the man accused of desecrating a Hanuman temple, and supported a voluntary bandh.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on August 21; the bandh was called for August 26.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Shiggaon town, Haveri district, Karnataka.
- Why
- Bommai said strict action was needed because the incident appeared deliberate and could disturb communal harmony.
Bommai and BJP
State Administration and Congress
Nature of the incident
Bommai and BJP
Bommai said the accused deliberately entered a gated temple and urinated inside, and he demanded a detailed investigation and strict legal action.
State Administration and Congress
Bommai alleged that police attempted to downplay the incident; the report does not provide a detailed police response to that accusation.
Shiggaon bandh
Bommai and BJP
Bommai supported the August 26 bandh as a voluntary protest intended to prevent further tensions and urged people from all communities to participate peacefully.
State Administration and Congress
The district administration reportedly decided not to permit the bandh, while the government side urged that the incident not be politicised.
Government response
Bommai and BJP
Bommai accused the state government of failing to act strongly on other alleged crimes, illegal activities and the drought situation.
State Administration and Congress
Congress criticism focused on the BJP allegedly preventing discussion of drought in the Assembly, while Bommai said the BJP would discuss drought if Minister B. Nagendra resigned.
- Accused
- Mohammad Jaffer, 31, was arrested in connection with the alleged temple desecration.
- Temple
- Sri Anjaneya (Hanuman) Swamy Temple near the taxi stand in Shiggaon.
- Alleged incident
- The accused allegedly entered the temple compound and urinated there while Shravan religious rituals were underway.
- Proposed action
- Bommai demanded a case under the Goonda Act and banishment of the accused from the district.
- Bandh date
- A Shiggaon bandh was called for August 26.
- Bommai’s position
- He said the bandh should be voluntary, peaceful and not directed against any community or religious festival.
- Political response
- District In-charge Minister Rudrappa Lamani appealed against politicising the incident; Bommai criticised the Congress and state administration.