Hampi protests govt’s move to relocate temple elephant Lakshmi

Hampi (Vijayanagara): Protests broke out on Tuesday against the govt’s decision to shift Lakshmi, the elephant of the Sri Virupaksheshwara Temple in Hampi, to Kolar for treatment.Villagers and devotees from Hampi, Kamalapur, Kaddirampur and nearby areas demanded that the elephant be retained in Hampi.Locals said Lakshmi, the temple elephant of the Virupaksha Temple, shares a deep emotional bond with people of the region. Protesters argued that deteriorating health should not be used as a reason to relocate the elephant.Though officials said Lakshmi was being shifted for three months of treatment, residents feared the elephant might never return to Hampi.Hundreds of villagers gathered in front of the temple as authorities moved to shift the elephant. Devotees raised slogans declaring Lakshmi the pride of their region and staged a road blockade to prevent official vehicles from entering Hampi.Residents demanded that treatment be provided near the Mango Tree area on the banks of the Tungabhadra river instead of shifting the elephant to Kolar. Devotees also expressed concern that several elephants taken away earlier in the name of treatment were never brought back. A social media campaign was also launched over the issue.As protests intensified, Vijayanagara police deployed tight security around the temple premises. Barricades were erected and senior police officers remained stationed at the spot to monitor the situation.Protesters also attempted to submit a memorandum, but alleged that no senior official came forward to receive it, further fuelling anger among demonstrators.