{
  "id": 2553152,
  "title": "BJP legislators in Hubbali protesting to ‘reclaim temple land’ court arrest; police clamped prohibitory orders as a precaution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/bjp-legislators-in-hubbali-protesting-to-reclaim-temple-land-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T10:23:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/bjp-legislators-in-hubbali-protesting-to-reclaim-temple-land-court-arrest-police-clamped-prohibitory-orders-as-a-precaution/article71377021.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 22, 2026, BJP legislators and activists in Hubballi staged a protest to reclaim temple land that they claimed had been encroached upon by municipal authorities. The protest was organized by the Pushkarani Samrakshana Samiti and involved Deputy Leader of Opposition and BJP legislator Arvind Bellad, along with Mahesh Tenginakai, Pradeep Shettar, and Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik. The dispute centered around the alleged encroachment of the temple pond, or pushkarani, at Bhavani Shankar and Narayan Temple in Asar Honda. The Samiti had called for the reclaiming of this temple land. The Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner issued prohibitory orders 500 meters around the temple premises, and a large police presence was deployed as a precaution. The protest march began from Channapet in Old Hubballi, where numerous BJP and Hindutva activists had gathered. Leaders like Arvind Bellad, Mahesh Tenginakai, and Pramod Mutalik led the march, chanting slogans demanding the recovery of the temple land. Police permitted the peaceful protest at the designated site, but tensions rose when activists attempted to push past the barricades to reach the temple premises. Despite the police's efforts to block their path, multiple leaders and protesters were arrested and taken away in police vehicles. BJP leader Mahesh Tenginakai later stated that the protest aimed solely to reclaim the temple land, and they would continue until this goal was achieved. Pramod Mutalik accused the municipal commissioner and archaeological department officials of succumbing to Congress government pressure to accommodate the minority community. The protest disrupted traffic for residents in Asar Honda and surrounding areas, with several roads blocked for vehicle movement until 10 a.m.",
  "summary": "Protesting against what they termed as encroachment over temple pond to lay road, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad, BJP legislators Mahesh Tenginakai, Pradeep Shettar, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik and scores of BJP and Hindutva activists courted arrest.",
  "key_points": [
    "BJP legislators protest to reclaim temple land in Hubballi.",
    "Police deploy prohibitory orders 500 meters around temple premises.",
    "Multiple leaders and protesters arrested during demonstration."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}