A tense two-day standoff over the final resting place of an elderly woman in a Ballari village was finally resolved on Saturday, bringing an end to a dispute that required significant police presence to prevent communal unrest.
Controversy Over Burial Site
The controversy centred on the burial of 80-year-old Ratnammavva, the wife of Ereppa Tatha, the second pontiff of the Erri Tatha Mutt in Kolagal village, Ballari taluk. Ratnammavva passed away in a private hospital on December 25. Her funeral, initially scheduled for Thursday, was delayed due to a fierce disagreement between two village communities regarding her burial site.
The Scheduled Community of Kolagal village demanded that she be laid to rest next to her husband's tomb within the mutt premises. However, the Kuruba community, who serve as the priests of the mutt, strongly opposed this demand. This disagreement sparked arguments and protests that lasted for two full days, from Thursday onwards.
Massive Police Deployment and Official Intervention
To control the volatile situation and maintain law and order, authorities deployed approximately 200 police personnel in the village. Senior officials, including Additional SP Ravi Kumar, Ballari assistant commissioner Rajesh HD, and tahsildar Rekha, remained stationed in the village throughout the day on Friday.
The dispute was further complicated by a legal constraint. Officials pointed to an existing High Court order mandating that the status quo be maintained in the 34-acre area belonging to the mutt. This led officials to initially object to any cremation or burial within the mutt premises itself.
The Scheduled Community's protest intensified following this objection, prompting SP Dr. Shobharani VJ to arrive at the scene to oversee security arrangements. A day-long meeting was convened on Friday involving the SP, other senior officials, and representatives from the conflicting village communities.
Peaceful Resolution and Final Rites
After extensive discussions, a compromise was reached on Friday night. It was decided that Ratnammavva would be buried on land belonging to the mutt, but outside its main premises, within the broader 34-acre property. This solution was accepted by both parties, paving the way for the funeral to proceed on Saturday.
SP Dr. Shobharani VJ stated that both sides consented to resolve the issue peacefully during the meeting, which created a favourable environment. However, authorities remained cautious. Police implemented tight security measures, drawing from lessons learned from a previous conflict over idol installation in the same area in 2024, an incident that had resulted in injuries to officials including Inspector Santosh Dubbin and CPI Satish.
With the agreement in place and under a heavy security blanket, the final rites for Ratnammavva were performed on Saturday, concluding a dispute that had gripped the village for two days.
