Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Spoorthi Ullal / Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru / Bantwal
Updated
Mangaluru/Bantwal, Jul 8: The mortal remains of RSS worker Sharath Madivala, who passed away on the night of Friday July 8 three days after he was brutally attacked by a group at BC Road in Bantwal, were taken in a procession from AJ Hospital here to his hometown Kandur in Sajipamunnur.
As the procession passed BC Road and was about to reach Melkar, trouble erupted as people started pelting stones at each other and at shops. There were verbal clashes too and as the situation began to go out of hand, the police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowds. Melkar and BC Road have completely shut down.
Several vehicles including three cars, an auto rickshaw and a bus were damaged in the stone-pelting. Unconfirmed sources said that one person was seriously injured.
Tense atmosphere prevailed as people resorted to stone pelting. Protest erupted as the procession passed BC Road. The protestors pelted stones at a building in Kaikamba. Stones were also pelted at some shops and vehicles in BC Road.
Traffic on the national highway was disrupted. The police deployed for security could not reach the spot of stone-pelting as the highway was closed and the situation went out of hand.
National highway was completely closed and vehicles were lined in long queues. Police teams have been stationed at BC Road, Kalladka and other sensitive places and KSRP squads have also been deployed. Western range IGP, SP, additional SP and other senior police officials have taken control of the situation and are trying hard to regulate traffic. Shops and business establishments have shut down.
In a related incident, a youth identified as Riyaz (26), a resident near Vamadapadavu, was stabbed by a group of youths who were reportedly part of the procession. As per Riyaz's statement, he and his brothers were on their way to a hospital in Mangaluru, when they were stalled by the procession. As the road was blocked, they waited for sometime, but then stone-pelting began and one stone hit Riyaz on the head. His brother got down from the bike, and just when Riyaz tried to move a little forward, a group came towards him and allgedly stabbed him on the neck. Riyaz, who has been admitted in hospital, further said that he was on the way to a hospital in Mangaluru to pay for his wife's treatment, who is also admitted. Former mayor Ashraf and others visited him.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of activists of various Hindu organizations took part in the procession with black flags tied to their two-wheelers. The entire B C Road area was covered by gloom at the death of this youngster. Over a thousand people including Sangh Parivar activists, Hindu organizations, and BJP leaders have gathered. Police personnel have been closely monitoring the situation. Over 2,000 policemen including CRPF personnel have been entrusted with he responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the taluk.
Sharath Madivala (28), who ran 'Udaya' laundry service at BC Road, was brutally attacked by a group when he was about to leave his workplace for home on the night of July 4. The attack happened despite Sec 144 being in place.
Sharath, son of Taniyappa a resident of Kandur, Sajipamunnur, was the only son to his parents. He was taking care of the laundry service all by himself and shared good rapport with other shopkeepers in the neighbourhood.
The doctors had been keenly monitoring the health condition of Sharath since the last two days, as he was fighting for his life as deep wounds inflicted on him had caused loss of blood in large quantities. Even after the doctors put in lot of effort for three days to save him, Sharath did not respond to their efforts. He was declared to have died on Friday.
Taniappa Madivala was running his 'Udaya Laundry' since the last 30 years in a rented building. As his father was aged, Sharath had taken over responsibility of running the laundry. Sharath is survived by father, mother, Nalini, and two elder sisters, one of whom is married. The other sister helps with running of laundry by working there. Sharath normally used to arrive at his laundry from his home at Kudur, Sajipamunnur village in the taluk in Maruti Omni van. People running shops in the neighbourhood of his laundry happen to be Sharath's friends. It may be noted that leaders of several political parties used to get their clothes ironed in Sharath's laundry. Sharath was friendly with everyone and did not differentiate on the basis of political ideologies, caste, or religion.
As soon social websites flashed the news of death of Sharath, an air of apprehension enveloped the entire taluk. The untimely demise of Sharath has plunged his family members, relatives, fans and activists of Hindu organization in deep grief. All of them rushed to hospital to have a glimpse of Sharath.
Already prohibitory orders under section144 are in force in the entire taluk. With the death of Sharath, security has been tightened all over. Additional police personnel have been deployed here from elsewhere. A close vigil is being maintained on the situation. The police have urged people not to lend credence fo rumours. Under the supervision of inspector general of police, Harishekaran, superintendent of police, Sudheer Kumar Reddy, and additional superintendent of police (in-charge),Vishnuvardhan, tight security has been arranged.
With the death of Sharath, the case pertaining to murder attempt on him has been transformed into murder case. The case has been registered in the town police station here.