Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady
Beltangady, Jan 17: Communal clashes erupted at Karaya in Uppinangady police station limits late evening on Friday January 16, resulting in injuries to some persons and heavy damage to vehicles and property.
As rumours ran rife and members of two communities blamed each other, the exact reason for the clashes to erupt remained uncertain.
On the one hand, it is alleged that stones were pelted from hillocks on right wing activists returning from 'Virat Hindu Hrudaya Sangama' programme that was held in Puttur. Angered at this, the activists allegedly retaliated and pelted stones at mosques.
On the contrary, it is alleged that the right wing activists, boisterous after attending the Virat Hindu Hrudaya Sangama, took to stone pelting at mosques without any provocation from the other community.
The clashes resulted in injuries to several persons and damage to many vehicles as the mob went on rampage around Karaya. As the situation got out of hand, the police who arrived at the spot had difficulty in controlling the clashes. Additional police forces were deployed and the fighting groups were lathi-charged.
It is reported that following the clashes, members of a community began stopping vehicles and pedestrians and attacked them with stones and sharp objects. The police, being insufficient in number, lathi-charged at anyone and everyone. Even media persons were assualted, it is learnt.
The clashes were reported at Uppinangady Bank road and near Gandhi Park also. Some of the persons who were admitted to Benaka hospital at Ujire have been identified as Ananta Nayak, Naveen Sapalya of Dharmasthala, Deekshith, Sandesh and Sushanth. A person named Mustafa was reportedly hit with a stone. There were reports that a mosque cleric was also assualted, but it later turned out that blood had spilled on the cleric's clothes while helping Mustafa, and this was misconstrued. It is also alleged that a family returning from another place was waylaid and attacked.
Rapid action force was pressed into action and police managed to bring the situation under control, sources said.