Overview

• On Friday evening an unidentified man climbed the marble statue of Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at K.R. Circle, shaking it and attempting to burn its surface with a lit beedi
• Witnesses report the vandal remained atop the statue for over 30 minutes at a busy junction with no officials present before fleeing ahead of the police
• Devaraja police are investigating a suspect believed to be mentally unstable and have since deployed guards to monitor the monument 24×7
• Members of the Ursu community led by Manoj Urs held a peaceful protest demanding the perpetrator’s arrest and enhanced monument security, withdrawing after police assurances
• Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar condemned the desecration and backed proposals for permanent preservation measures such as a protective metal canopy