Trupati Desai stopped from visiting Kolhapur's Mahalaxmi Temple, detained

Kolhapur: Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai and her supporters were stopped and detained near Tara Rani Chowk while on their way to Mahalaxmi Temple in the city.

"They have been arrested for violating the order issued by the Additional Collector under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (which confers on him power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger)," said the police officer who detained Desai and other women activists.

After garlanding the statue of Tara Rani at the chowk, the Bhumata Brigade activists had a plan take out a rally up to Mahalaxmi Temple before entering the sanctum sanctorum. 

However, they were stopped by the Kolhapur police from reaching the chowk. Police detained them and dislodged them from the scene in vans to maintain law and order situation there.

Protesting their detention, Desai said, "We are going to garland the statue of Tara Rani, but police are trying to stop us, which is contempt of the Bombay High Court`s order. We can take action against police."

When asked she had been served a notice by the district administration prohibiting her to take out a rally, she said, "I have been served the notice now, it should have been sent to me earlier."

Earlier talking to ANI, she said, "We have arrived in Kolhapur. We will take out a rally after garlanding the statue of Tara Rani and will march towards Mahalaxmi Temple."

When told there was a tight security outside the temple and villagers, including women, also joined police to stop you, Desai said, "I don`t think that anybody will be able to stop us. We got the high court`s order. Besides, the district administration has given us permission to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. They have only told us to follow the dress code, to which we agreed. But, today we will offer our prayers at the temple with respect."

Asked if she was denied entry to the temple, Desai said they would definitely offer prayers, and if police or administration tried to stop them, they would take legal course against them. (With ANI inputs)