Mangaluru, January 19: Dr S D Sharanappa, district superintendent of police (SP) has informed in a press meet on Saturday January 17th concerned to the communal clashes erupted in Karya in Belthangady Taluk that Section 144 has been imposed there and cops have registered three suo motu cases.
Dr Sharanappa said that in the Virat Hindu Hrudaya Sangama held at Puttur on Friday January 16th, around 30,000 people had gathered and tight security was deployed after discussions with the organizers and leaders and adequate security arrangements were done not only in Puttur but various other places especially in the sensitive areas. As many as 1,500 police were deployed, including 12 KSRP, 10 DAR, one RAF, five anti-sabotage battalion, a bomb detection squad and 1,000 police personnel in civil clothes. Other arrangements like videography, security checks, check posts etc were also in place. We also visited and inspected lodges designated for the convention. I congratulate the people and the police department on this.
Dr Sahranappa revealed that about 1083 police personnel’s were deployed not only in Puttur but in all sensitive areas and 31 mobile sectors were put up in the district, so that if any untoward incident took place, police could reach in 20 minutes.
When the activists were on their way back from the convention at around 7.30 pm on Friday, the stone-pelting incident had occurred. The police made all arrangements within 21 minutes to control the situation, with one ASI, a head constable, police personnel and home guard deployed at the spot. The police mobile sector arrived at the spot within ten minutes. Additional SP and I too rushed to the spot along with rapid action force, said the SP.
Out of the three suo motu cases registered, one case was against a group of 24 activists for attempting to cause riots, and two other cases for stone-pelting by the mob, revealed the SP said.
SP said, twenty-four activists were coming from the convention carrying stones with them in a pickup truck. All the 24 were taken into custody for attempting to spark riots and a suo motu case was registered who were released on bail later.
He said, five cops, 11 Muslims and eight Hindus were injured during the incident.
Dr Sharanappa said, we successfully handled the situation on Friday. The situation was brought under control within half an hour after the clashes erupted and everything was cleared.
SP said, discussions were held with the leaders of both the communities’ post the clashes and they have cooperated with the police department in maintaining peace, law and order in the society. He said, throughout the district, the situation was normal today and has warned that appropriate legal actions would be taken if miscreants try to disturb peace in the society in the coming days.
When queried on the actual cause for the clashes and who provoked it, he said, it is very difficult to come to any conclusion now and that investigations are underway.
Dr Sharanappa has urged citizens to maintain peace and said, people should ignore the rumours. There are miscreants and anti-social elements who are involved in spreading rumours especially through mobile phones. Citizens can contact me or the additional SP directly if they hear such news and clarify it. The youth should build the society in a constructive manner.
Dr Sharanappa said, currently in Karaya; Section 144 will be in effect till the situation completely returns to normal state and revealed that along with four KSRP, 250 police staffs and four rapid action force personnel are deployed there to avoid any untoward incidents from taking place.
