Two Die In Violence-Prone Banni Festival At Devaragattu, 5 Serious

Kurnool district police deployed about 1,000 cops and blocked the roads. But once the ritual clash picked up momentum, police personnel could not prevent the deaths and the injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Thimmappa, 45 of Arikere, who died of serious injuries. Hanimeya, 47 of Adoni died due to cardiac arrest. Five persons have suffered critical injuries. They have been shifted to the Adoni Government Hospital. 90 others have been treated at the nearby health centres and hospitals.

As part of the centuries-old tradition, two groups fight like they are in a war. One group comprised people from Neraniki, Neraniki Tanda and Kothapeta. The other consisted of individuals from Arikera, Suluvayi and Yellarthi. The fight starts soon after the celestial marriage of Lord Malleswara Swamy with his Consort on the holy day of Vijaya Dasami every year.

Though there have been demands to ban this violence prone ritual, nothing concrete has happened on this front.

Three days ago, officials led by Kurnool SP Vikranth Patel and Adoni sub-collector Mourya Bharadwaj had met the elders of the villages to limit the event only to a symbolic fight. On the Dasami day, authorities pressed in contingents of police and also kept ambulances ready, along with first aid services.

However, after 11 p.m. on Thursday, the crowd had swelled in both the groups. What had been expected to be a symbolic clash soon turned violent, leading to the two deaths.

Police intervened to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.