Daijiworld Media Network - Koppal (SP)
Koppal, Dec 13: Due to stone pelting incident, a Bhajans procession was taken out in Gangavathi town in spite of prohibitory orders in force, and eight persons including six policemen were injured in stone pelting incident on Monday December 12.
Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and people wearing Hanuma garlands took out a procession at Gangavathi on Monday. They initially held meeting at Mallikarjuna Math where they decided to take out a procession from the Math to Anjanadri Hill. The processionists insisted on going ahead with their plans, although prohibitory orders had been enforced in the town in view of communal clash on Sunday. Reportedly, several participants of the procession including those wearing Hanuma garlands were holding swords, sticks and tridents.
Ballari range inspector general of police, Murugan, and superintendent of police, Dr K Tyagarajan, reached the spot after the procession reached Gandhi Circle via Ganesh Circle. The processionists stuck to their decision to go ahead even after having been advised by police officers against it, and heated arguments with police personnel ensued. During this period, some angry people resorted to stone pelting.
Police personnel, Vishwanath, Mudukappa Turuvihal, Rajashekhar, Gopal, and two others were injured. They stand admitted into the sub-divisional government hospital for treatment. Most of the injuries were sustained to head, legs, and shoulders. Most of the participants of the procession had come in from cities like Ballari, Raichur, Belagavi, Hubli, Davanagere etc after coming to know about the communal clash of the previous day.
As soon as some persons including policemen got injured, policemen resorted to caning to disperse the crowd. IGP, Murugan, said that a small issue got blown up into a big incident, and that no one has been arrested relating to this incident so far. He insisted that prohibitory orders will be in place till the situation eases. He requested people not to rely on rumours, and assured them of security by over a thousand police personnel deployed to look after law and order situation.