Gaddanakeri Tanda Temple Dispute Resolved as Factions Agree to Conduct Durgadevi Jatre Together

An intense local dispute that had previously triggered violence in Gaddanakeri Tanda of Bagalkote taluk has ended peacefully following a community reconciliation meeting. The conflict originally erupted on July 31 when local residents Manjunath Rathod and Ekanath Rathod requested financial accounting regarding ₹3 crore in cash donations and 5 kg of gold ornaments belonging to the Sri Durgadevi Temple. The argument quickly escalated into a violent clash involving iron rods and axes, leaving several individuals injured, including Bhojappa Rathod, the brother of former ZP member Hoovappa Rathod. The violent incident had created widespread tension in Gaddanakeri Tanda, leading to a protest outside the District Superintendent of Police's office and formal criminal complaints being registered at the Navanagar Police Station. Fearing that the ongoing rift would jeopardize the upcoming triennial Durgadevi Jatre scheduled to begin on November 13, Banjara community elders intervened to broker peace between the factions. During the recent mediation session, former ZP member Hoovappa Rathod and his team submitted complete financial documentation detailing the temple's income, expenditure, and gold assets. Satisfied with the transparent accounting, both groups agreed to resolve their differences, withdraw the pending complaints lodged at the Navanagar Police Station, and collaborate to ensure the three-day festival is celebrated smoothly and harmoniously.