Bagalkot: Tension gripped the region after the district administration evicted Jain saints from the historic Bhadragiri Hills stating that the Jain institutions had encroached the government land on top of the hill.

Bhadragiri Hills have been considered as a pilgrim centre for the Jains and the move of the district administration of demolishing some religious structures erected atop the hill three days ago, raged the Jains in Bagalkot, Dharwad and Koppala.

The Jains staged a stir against the move of the district administration and Jain organisations across North Karnataka have called for a bundh on Sunday.

North Karnataka Jain Maha Sangha Secretary BA Patil said, “Bhadragiri Hills has been a pilgrimage centre for the Jains ever since the saints had settled atop the hills from the fourth century and this is supported by historical evidence. Negotiations are on with the government over possession of the land; however a one-sided decision cannot be taken on evicting our revered saints.”