Rumours about cave-like structure lead to tension in Hubballi

Hubballi police were on tenterhooks on Tuesday with rumour mill at work over a cave-like structure discovered in a residential layout that is under development.

With rumours about the cave-like structure — discovered off Karwar Road after a blast was triggered to make way for roadworks — belonging to different faiths, and self-proclaimed champions of religion coming out with their own versions, a large number of people started gathering near the spot on Tuesday, leading to tension in the area.

A large number of police personnel were deployed at the spot to prevent any untoward incident. They managed to disperse the crowd and also got one of the religious heads to visit the place to inspect the veracity of different stories making the rounds.

Moulana Zahiruddin Kaji, who inspected the cave-like structure, said it was not at all a cave. “It is hardly eight to ten feet deep, [looks like] a man-made structure and it is not of any religious importance,” he told presspersons later.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jinendra Khanagavi said as a precautionary measure, they had deployed police at the spot as there were chances of vested interests exploiting the situation to instigate people.

Meanwhile, developer of the property and Congress leader Mahendra Singhi told

The Hindu that he had asked the police to ensure that no unauthorised person entered the property to prevent any tension in the locality.

He said the property was being developed after getting permission from the authorities. He appealed to people not to heed to rumours being spread by vested interests.