Karnataka: Jesus statue and crosses on a hill removed after local groups allege encroachment

Bengaluru : Local authorities shifted a statue of Jesus Christ and 14 crosses that were allegedly illegally installed on Mahima Betta in Doddaballapura, on Tuesday. Police forces have been deployed in the area as a precaution.

Police said the tahsildar initiated action after he received complaints from some organisations that the four-acre land belonging to the panchayat was allegedly encroached upon and a prayer hall was built on the hillock. “As per the tahsildar’s request, we gave security and the statue of Jesus Christ and the 14 crosses were shifted to a church nearby,” an official said.

Police said that the local Christian community had approached the panchayat to allot land for cemetery, but the panchayat refused.

‘Reacting’ to this development, ‘Atheist’ Javed Akhtar has condemned the removal of a statue of Jesus Christ from a hill near Bengaluru saying that although he is an atheist, the move made him hang his head in shame. It would be interesting to note that this same person has not even a uttered a word when ancient temples are removed or demolished in the name of development works.

Although I am an Athiest I hang my head in shame as an Indian that near Banglore a statue of Jesus was removed with a crane by the police following the orders of Karnataka Govt.

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 7, 2020