Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Updated
Bantwal, Apr 11: Tension prevailed in Kalladka here on Thursday April 10 night after a group attacked a youth, resulting in clashes. Following the incident, a bandh was called on Friday April 11.
It is said that a group got into confrontation with a youth at around 8.30 pm and allegedly assaulted him. In the fight that followed, two groups of people reportedly threw soda bottles and stones at each other.
Traders in Kalladka and nearby places closed their shutters soon after the incident. It is said that stones were also pelted at several vehicles.
Two teams of KSRP police stationed there resorted to lathi charge to control the mob. Bantwal town police SI and Bantwal police circle inspector also rushed to the spot.
Three people were injured and two vehicles plying from Kalladka to Vittal were damaged in the stone pelting. The vehicles were a Maruti car belonging to Ritesh Shetty and a Toofan vehicle of Ayyappa devotees, residents of Kottigehara of Moodigere, Chikmagalur.
The injured were identified as Ayyappa devotees Suresh (32), Sadashiva (39) and Satish (30). They were admitted to Vittal general hospital. It is said that fifteen people were travelling in the Toofan vehicle. Some other vehicles were also said to have been damaged in the incident.
The friction that occurred due to a small matter on Thursday night resumed on Friday afternoon as clashes and stone pelting continued. Traders closed down their shops out of fear while some other shops were closed by the police.
Taufeeq, Khaleel, Poorlippadiya Amit Poojary, Rajesh Poojary, Pushparaj Poojary, Ramesh Nayak and Harish who were injured in the clashes on Thursday night were admitted to private hospitals in Mangalore, Thumbay and Puttur.
Though police from Kerala and BSF men were called to control the violence on Thursday the stone pelting and group fights continued in their presence on Friday. The paramilitary forces held a march on Friday morning and said that they are there to maintain peace. However, tension escalated once again on Friday afternoon.
The stone pelting on two youths going to the mosque on Friday is said to be the reason for resumption of tension. As they came to the NH screaming, two groups were created in the market area and started throwing stones and soda bottles at each other. The police reportedly controlled the situation and made the traders close their shops.
It is said that three separate cases were registered in the Bantwal police station and prohibitory orders were passed to prevent untoward incidents.
Kalladka which is badly affected by the incidents looked deserted. The shops were closed. Traffic was considerably less.
Stones and broken pieces of soda bottles could be seen on the roads and near shops. The people remained indoors apparently due to fear. People, traders, school and college students were put to inconvenience. The people were angry that the police failed to control such incidents that have been occurring in Kalladka every now and then. It is alleged that the police are not considering the situation seriously and are not arresting the accused.
Police commissioner R Hitendra, SP Sharanappa and additional SP T Shivakumar visited the place and directed the concerned to prevent recurrence of the situation. DySP Rashmi Paradi, circle inspector Rajashekar Maistry, SI Sanjay Kallura Kalladkadlale are stationed in the place. Additional police and armed BSF personnel were also called.
Ever since the elections were declared, disturbances have increased and frequent clashes prove the high-handedness of Congress, alleged former MLA Padmanabha Kottari.
Speaking to press persons on Friday, he blamed district incharge minister Ramanath Rai and local cilla panchayat member Chandraprakash Shetty for the incidents and condemned them. He alleged that 25 to 40 innocent BJP and Sangh Parivar activists have been arrested. "It is a conspiracy to stop them from working for the election. Police also have joined them," he alleged.
The situation in Kalladka is said to be under control. Precautionary measures are in place, said circle inspector Rajashekhar Mistry.