Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 30: Communal hatred that was brewing between two communities in the region since sometime, which was under wraps till now, suddenly burst into the open on Tuesday July 29 at Sacheripet near Moodbidri.

As the situation threatened to go out of hand, Karkala policemen led by Udupi district assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Annamalai, resorted to lathi charge to disperse people who were seething with communal passion. It is learnt that four persons were arrested relating to these disturbances.

Since sometime, cows left for grazing used to be stolen on a regular basis from Sacheripet and surrounding areas, which fall under Mundkur village in Karkala taluk. In a couple of cases, cattle which fell off the trucks when they were being illegally transported to slaughter houses by cattle traffickers, were found lying on the road. Several Hindu youth from the area were angry and agitated at these occurrences. They also were making hectic efforts to find out the thieves. This had resulted in mounting of tension between two communities. Rumours were flying thick and thin, alleging that youth from a community had been becoming closer to girls from the other community as part of a careful plan. These conflicts however, remained behind the scenes, and never poured into the open.

It is said that a motor bike-borne youth named Anwar had recently intercepted an auto rickshaw driver from Sacheripet and abused him by using filthy words. It is said that the same youth, who was travelling in a Maruti car with a friend named Nayaz, had approached an auto rickshaw driven by Dinesh from Kadandale at high speed, and had avoided hitting the three-wheeler at the last minute. It is learnt that the car then plunged into the roadside storm drain. Angered by this development, Dinesh stopped his auto rickshaw and questioned Anwar. It is said that Anwar behaved with arrogance and responded with an air of derision. After this, Anwar got admitted to hospital and filed police complaint, alleging that Dinesh along with his friends had assaulted the former. This occurred in the afternoon on Tuesday.

On the basis of this complaint, the police arrested Dinesh and three other accused by Tuesday evening. Angry Hindu youth then moved to Sacheripet in droves from various villages, and demanded for the release the arrested youth, who they claimed, were innocent. Karkala rural station house officer, Mahadeva Setti, who got scent about a trivial issue fast snowballing into communal clashes, conveyed the information to Udupi ASP. Additional police contingents were then rushed to Sacheripet. These contingents then caned the crowds and dispersed them. Moodbidri station house officer, Ramesh Kumar, also visited the spot and helped in restoring law and order.

Jagadish Adhikari, K P Sucharita Shetty, and several other leaders visited the spot.