Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)
Dharwad, Sep 14: Ganesha festival is normally considered to be an occasion which upholds values of harmonious co-existence and peace. But the immersion ceremony this year proved to be a black day in the history of Hubballi city as stabbing incidents happened at five spots during the early morning Ganesha idol immersion ceremonies during the early hours of Friday September 13.
In these incidents, six were injured and a student lost his life. The victim was Basavaraj Shivoor (21), a nursing student of KLE College here, who had come with friends to watch Ganesha idol immersion. He was stabbed at around 2.15 am on Friday near Tulaja Bhavani temple. He was admitted into Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) immediately but he succumbed to his injuries at around 5 am. He was from Sankrikoppa village in Hangal taluk of Haveri district, it is learnt.
Out of the six injured, three were admitted into KIMS as in-patients. The condition of one of them is said to be critical.
No one knows who were behind the stabbing incidents and the purpose for which these attacks were planned. After the incidents, additional forces have been deployed, and the police have formed special teams to probe the issue.
The first of the stabbing incidents was reported from near Tulaja Bhavani temple. As the police personnel concentrated on the incident, stabbing incidents happened near Harsha Complex, Sangolli Rayanna Circle, Chennamma Circle and Durgadbail within a gap of ten minutes. In certain incidents, people were attacked with punches. In all these incidents, youngsters were targeted. Separate cases were registered in satellite and town police stations.
The police commissionerate here has formed a special team led by deputy commissioner of police to investigate the issue. The team has been viewing CCTV footages in the areas to get clue about the perpetrators of these crimes. Several persons have been already questioned. City police commissioner R Dilip, said that necessary security was provided during the procession but the miscreants indulged in stabbing and attack with punches in sporadic incidents. He said that necessary steps have been taken to find out the culprits and ensure that they get proper punishment.