Members of some Muslim organisations staged a protest against alleged desecration of holy books in Santi Bastawad village in Belagavi district of Karnataka, on May 13, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang has formed five teams to solve the case of alleged desecration of some holy books in Santi Bastawad village in Belagavi district of Karnataka.

“We have some clues and will investigate the matter further,” he told reporters in Belagavi on May 13. He said senior officers were overseeing the probe.

Devotees, who arrived at the village mosque, found that copies of some prayer books, including the holy Quran, were missing from a book shelf. Later, they found some half-burnt books in a field on the outskirts of the village.

On May 12 night, a large number of youth staged a protest in Belagavi. They demanded a swift probe and action against the offenders.

Mr. Marbaniang and Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohan Jagadeesh met the protesters and assured them of proper legal action.

MLA Asif (Raju) Sait, who submitted a memorandum to the officers along with the protesters, said such incidents had occurred in the past, but the police had failed to act tough against the offenders then. “I have told the police commissioner that the negligence and dereliction of duty of some police officers was provoking some anti-social elements to engage in such offences. I have asked for a transfer of all erring officials,” he said.

The MLA appealed to the villagers not to be disturbed by such incidents and not to let mischievous acts damage the communal harmony of the village.

Sayed Abdul Samad, a villager, recollected that mischief-mongers had earlier tried to disturb the peace in the village two years ago.

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who met senior officers on May 13 to discuss development projects, directed police officers to conduct a scientific investigation and act against the offenders.