The Bajrang Dal activists tried to install an idol of Ganesha (black stone, about 2 feet tall), but Deputy Commissioner of Chikmagalur K S Manjunath took possession of the idol, exercising the powers of the Endowment Commissioner.

Though Bajrang Dal leaders warned that the idol should not be touched, it was quietly taken away.

An attempt to take a `trishul' inside was prevented and it was confiscated. ``You must be happy that we did not arrest you for carrying it in view of prohibitory orders,'' the deputy commissioner told Bajrang Dal convenor Pramod Muthalik, who argued: ``It is not a weapon''.

Bajrang Dal leaders claimed at a meeting near the shrine that they had succeeded in their plan to install asilver idol of Dattatreya in front of the `paduka' at the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.

However, the district administration maintained that the idol would be removed soon after the Datta Jayanthi celebration are over and it is an annual feature during the jayanti celebrations. The DC said the idol is installed for three days (Dec 1, 2 and 3) every year.

Pir Mohammed Shah Kadri, the priest of the shrine, said he would approach the court since the pooja was illegal. Shah Kadri's removal is one of the demands of the Bajrang Dal and VHP. Those who arrived shouted several provocative slogans before entering the shrine.

The district administration, which expected only around 3,000 people, was surprised when over 10,000 Bajrang Dal/VHP supporters turned up at this hill shrine till 2 pm on Thursday.

However, police was prepared to meet even a crowd of 25,000. Inspector General of Western Range, B N Bhonsale said people arrived in lorries, vans, jeeps and buses to this remote hill located 29 km fromChikmagalur town.

Bajrang Dal leaders addressed a huge crowd on the hillside. About 1,750 policemen had been posted to prevent any violence.

A group of youth wearing saffron headbands broke loose from the queue and hoisted a saffron flag as the police watched. Both Chikmagalur Deputy Commissioner K S Manjunath and Bhonsale said that such incidents ``could not be stopped'' as this would lead to a confrontation.

Soon after the flag was hoisted, the Bajrang Dal convenor tried to make a speech to a cheering crowd. Bhonsale intervened and the crowd dispersed to attend the pooja.

While the organisers themselves were not very enthusiastic in the morning, their spirits rose as people turned up in thousands. At the public speech held at the hillside, speakers called for Dattatreya pooja every Thursday from now on.

The supporters were provided lunch by the organisers. The crowd began to disperse by 2.30 pm.

Union Government Special Home Secretary Kaushal paid a brief visit to the hill saying that he was`only an observer'. He said that the proceedings came under the state's purview. He had been sent by Delhi to support the state's bandobust if necessary, he said. He was accompanied by ADGP (Law and Order), T Madiyal.

Bhonsale said a police outpost would be set up here and the bandobust would continue till December 6.

Asked about the future plans of Bajrang Dal, its national general secretary Prakash Sharma said ``No military general will reveal his plans''. However, he asserted the demand for a daily pooja in the shrine. ``It should be a Hindu pooja,'' he added. Asked if there were attempts to replay `Ayodhya', he said: ``Ayodhya is different. This is different.''

Director General of Police T Srinivasulu said later in Bangalore that the elaborate police force prevented vandalism and the three-day Datta Jayanthi celebrations ended on a peaceful note.