Gundlupet: The National Highway 766, which connects Kerala with Karnataka, was blocked for over three hours near Maddur check-post in the taluk, following a duel and clash between the Forest Department officials and devotees of Inuru Marigudi Temple yesterday. A Forest Department official was reportedly injured in the clash. The temple is located in Kalkere Forest Range coming under Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the taluk. The trouble broke out after the Forest personnel stopped a large number of devotees who were on their way to the temple to offer puja on the occasion of Ashada month.
The officials, denying permission, stopped the devotees, hundreds of people breached the barricades and staged a protest, which resulted in disruption of vehicular traffic.
