Chickmagalur, December 29: Police used force to disperse people of different communities who gathered in large numbers at MG road and Hanumanthappa road after tension enveloped the communally sensitive town on Friday morning. Tension began escalating in the town after the severed head of an animal carcass was found near a religious place in the morning leading to protests from people.
Senior district officials rushed to the spot to placate the angry protestors and assured them of stern action against the perpetrators. Later, people began gathering near deputy commissioner’s office and soon there was a large gathering at MG road. Simultaneously, people of the other community too began gathering.
Police forces which were rushed to the area resorted to lathicharge to disperse both the communities, as it was believed that a clash was imminent. Dozens of people were injured in the lathicharge. Authorities said the situation was now under control. A meeting of the peace committee was being organised in the evening to discuss ways of de-escalating tension in the town.
The deputy commissioner, Shekarappa said the use of force was only to avoid clashes between people of the two communities that were gathering in large numbers.
