Warangal: A tension-like atmosphere prevailed when Ayyappa devotees tried to stop Bairi Naresh, an atheist, from attending a meeting held at a private function hall here in Eturnagaram mandal in the Mulugu district on Monday.
Naresh, a native of Sriramula Pally village of Kamalapur mandal in Huzurabad constituency, had made controversial comments against Hindu gods drawing severe criticism from various Hindu organisations.
Several Hindu organisations including the Ayyappa devotees lodged 16 cases against him across the state. He was also sent to jail. But, after being released from the jail on bail, he could not mend his ways.
On Monday, Naresh came to attend Bhimrao Koregaon programme at Eturnagaram. On learning about his arrival, the Ayyappa devotees came to the venue in large numbers and obstructed him from attending the event by intercepting his vehicle.
A heated argument took place between the protestors and the followers of Naresh. In the melee, the driver tried to move the car forward through the mob in a bid to escape from them, injuring a devotee named Narasimha Rao.
Raged by this, the devotees tried to attack the vehicle and Naresh. On being alerted, police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protestors.
However, the Ayyappa devotees staged a protest on the national highway demanding the immediate arrest of Naresh and an apology from him. Later, the police managed to bring the situation under control by sending Naresh from the place.
