Chikkamagaluru, (DHNS): Stray incidents of stone pelting and assult were reported from Chikkamagalur on Sunday when hundreds of devotees, wearing Dattamala mala, visited Inam Dattatreya Peeta at Bababudangiri to have the darshan of the Datta Paduke on the occasion of Datta Jayanthi.

Tension prevailed for some time at the Datta Peeta as a devotee jumped into the restricted area and placed a 'Bhagawadwaja.' The police rushed to the spot and pulled him out of the restricted area. This led to chaos at the site. In the melee, all the barricades placed at the site came down. Devotees also ransacked the name boards placed at the tombs in the restricted area of Datta peeta.

A few of the devotees had sneaked saffron shawl into the restricted area as well. Chikkamagalur SP K Annamalai and his staff brought the situation under control.

In the evening, some unidentified miscreants pelted stones at a private bus. Two persons riding a two-wheeler were assaulted by miscreants at Uppalli. The police said the situation is under control. There was a bandh-like atmosphere in Chikkamagaluru town.

Devotees carrying "Irumudi" left for the Datta Peeta in the morning after having bath at the Honnammana halla. They stood in a queue for more than two-and-a-half kilometre from the main entrance to have the darshan of the paduke. Ganapathi homa, Datta homa, havana, pooja for Anasooya Devi, Athri Muni and Guru Dattatreya statues were performed.

There was traffic congestion over a three-kilometre stretch from the Datta Peeta. The police had tough time managing the traffic. The police had heightened security at the site.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration had closed down all the shops and business establishments.