Shillong, October 2: In response to escalating tension, Karnataka Police has extended curfew to encompass the entire city of Shivamogga.
Earlier, IPC Section 144 prohibitory orders were imposed in the Ragi Gudda area of the city after violence erupted during the Eid Milad procession.
As per IANS, the city remains on edge, prompting heightened security measures at sensitive locations, with businesses instructed to close.
Police have taken complaints from victims whose properties were damaged during the stone pelting and violence. Over 25 individuals have been taken into custody, and CCTV footage is being analyzed to identify those involved.
Sources indicate that during the Eid Milad procession, troublemakers entered a Hindu residential area and pelted stones at homes, inciting violence. They also targeted the police with stones, although the authorities managed to contain the situation and prevent major incidents.
Channabasappa, BJP MLA from Shivamogga, visited the injured in the hospital and called for action against those responsible for the violence. He also visited the homes of victims targeted by the assailants. As the situation remains volatile, IGP East Zone Tyagarajan rushed to the scene, and Deputy Commissioner R. Selvamani has also assessed the situation.
Tension in Shivamogga, Karnataka, rose on Sunday after a stone-pelting incident during the Eid Milad procession. In response, authorities imposed prohibitory orders under IPC Section 144 in certain parts of the city.
The stone-pelting incident took place in the Ragigudda area near Shantinagar. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel swiftly responded and quelled the mob. The police used mild lathi charges to restore order and rescued seven individuals trapped between stone-pelters and security forces.
The controversy stemmed from objections raised by members of the Muslim community regarding the removal of objectionable writing on a cut-out of Tipu Sultan. Superintendent of Police (SP) Mithun Kumar held discussions with community leaders and addressed their concerns about the cut-out.
Shivamogga has a history of communal sensitivity, and the police have been on high alert for the past 15 days, given the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and Eid Milad celebrations.
To maintain peace, authorities have deployed at least 12 platoons of District Armed Reserve (DAR), two platoons of Rapid Action Force (RAF), two platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), and 2,500 police personnel throughout the city.
Shivamogga gained national attention in February 2022 following the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha. The city has also witnessed a series of stabbing incidents related to the display of banners and posters featuring BJP’s freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.
