Mysuru: The Chamarajanagar district police arrested a youth for allegedly setting fire to the nearly 180 years ancient chariot in Chamarajanagar on February 18. The suspect, Mohan Kumar (35) is believed to have set fire to the chariot since it was old.
According to police, the accused was disappointed because despite several reminders since past seven-eight years, the plea for a new chariot had not been sanctioned by the authorities. Hence he had a novel idea of seting fire to the old chariot whereafter, he presumed, the authorities would be compelled to sanction new chariot for the fare, a long pending dream of locals.
Hence as per the plan, on February 18, he went near the temple where the chariot was placed and set fire to the coconut leaves covering it. As the leaves were dry, the fire engulfed the chariot pretty fast causing a major damage to it. The incident was taken more seriously by the police as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too had assured the people that the culprits would be arrested at the earliest.
On Thursday, Chamarajanagar Police arrested Mohan and booked a case under IPC Sec 435 and produced him before the district court before taking him back to custody.