By: Express News ServiceBengaluru | September 22, 2025 11:21 AM IST 2 min readThe CID has issued notices to the Attica gold company and Ismitha Jain to appear for questioning over the crime. (Representative/File Photo)The police in Belur of Karnataka’s Hassan district took a woman into custody for allegedly desecrating an idol inside a temple Sunday, triggering tensions in the historic town.According to the Belur police, the idol inside the Vidya Ganapathi Temple, located on the premises of the Town Municipal Council office, was desecrated by the woman. This was discovered by locals, who alerted the police.CCTV footage from the temple showed a woman with her face covered entering the premises, and desecrating the idol. The woman, later identified by the police as Leelamma of Vijayanagar Layout, Hassan district, was taken into custody on Sunday evening.Mohammed Sujitha, Superintendent of Police, told reporters that the woman is mentally ill, and a detailed probe was on.According to the police, Leelamma left her home at 8.30 pm, and travelled to Belur, located around 40 km away. After allegedly desecrating the idol, she returned home, and her movements were recorded on CCTV cameras.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in the state were quick to attribute the incident to “anti-Hindu forces”. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, in a post on X, said that such incidents had increased after Congress came to power.“…anti-Hindu forces are targeting temples and faith centers and engaging in desecration. Throwing stones at Ganeshotsava, engaging in vile acts of defiling the idols of gods, and as a continuation of this, the incident of sneaking into the historic Ganesh temple in Belur, Hassan district, placing slippers on the idol, and committing this lowly desecration is extremely despicable and condemnable,” he said.Story continues below this adSoon after the incident, residents launched protests in the town. Fearing communal tensions, police stepped up security.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Karnataka Police