Bhatkal: After animal bones, head and meat found at different temples in Bhatkal over past several months, bloodstains were found on a temple wall today, following which the Koteshwar Road area was tense for sometime. 

According to initial reports, a few people noticed the bloodstains on a wall of the Dandeen Durgah temple and  immediately informed temple committee member Ram Krishna Naik. He informed other members of temple committee who rushed to the spot.

Hundreds of people gathered at the temple after hearing the news. Police also reached the spot and examined the bloodstains. Ram Krishna Naik believed that some miscreants deliberately did this to create tense situation in Bhatkal. 

But Police refrained from speculating about the incident. They also did not elaborate if the blood was of  an animal or a fish, and added that the samples have been sent to a laboratory for examination.

Bhatkal PSI Kudgunti and B Manjappa appealed to the people to keep calm and maintain peace, and assured investigation into the matter.

People who gathered at the temple in large numbers demanded the  arrest of culprits who threw blood on religious place. They also warned the police of protests if they failed to arrest the culprits.

The locals added that in 2001, a similar incident had been reported in the same temple but the police didn't take any action.

It may be noted that between June and December 2016, animal  bones, head and meat were found at different temples in Bhatkal. Later, it was reported that a BJP leader was allegedly involved in placing cow meat inside a temple to incite communal violence in Bhatkal. However, the police failed to make arrests and the case remains pending.