Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar,Nov 20: A friction between a crowd of Muslims, who were protesting against the move of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) in beating up illegal cattle traffickers before handing over them to the police, and the activists of  HJV, who reached the spot and engaged in a verbal friction with the protestors, arose. After emotions flared up, the two groups clashed, compelling the policemen to intervene. The incident occurred at Yellapur in the district on Friday November 19.

In two separate incidents, one on Thursday evening, and another on Friday morning, HJV activists had reportedly assaulted people transporting cattle and beef illegally, before handing over them to the police. Protesting against these incidents, after Friday prayers, a crowd of Muslims laid siege to Yellapur police station, urging the policemen to act against those who are breaking the law. Reports said that after the two groups clashed, the policemen resorted to lathi charge initially, and later fired in the air.

A few miscreants, making use of the opportunity, pelted stones at the shops on the main road. A police jeep was also damaged in stone throwing incident.

The district superintendent of police, Raman Gupta, who was busy overseeing Chief Minister’s programme in the district, visited Yellapur on Friday evening and camped there. He said that additional police forces have been deployed, and section 144 has been clamped in the area till Saturday night. He said that cases will be registered against the guilty if specific complaints are received, and that enough security will be provided to enable Muslims to perform Qurbani ritual without any problem.