Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 12: A total of seven cases were filed in the town, women's, and Manipal police stations here relating to frictions between workers of Congress and BJP during the Bharat Bandh call given by Congress with support of many organizations. About 40 persons, both leaders and party workers, have been named in these cases.

Ten persons including Congress municipal councillors, Ramesh Kanchan, Vijaya Poojary, former councillor, R K Ramesh and Gopal Poojary, BJP municipal councillors, Prabhakar Poojary and Girish Anchan, have been arrested by the police. Out of them, Ramesh Kanchan, who was injured in caning incident on Monday, is being treated in the government hospital at Ajjarakad here. The government hospital has been provided with security and a contingent of Karnataka State Reserve Police has been posted there. In total, 30 persons have been taken into custody, said district superintendent of police (SP), Laxman Nimbargi. He said that steps would be taken to arrest the remaining persons soon.

One of these cases was filed on the basis of complaint filed by the police circle inspector here, Navinchandra Jogi. He said that BJP and Congress activists obstructed police from discharging their duties at Bannanje. Town station sub-inspector, Ananthapadmanabha, complained that BJP and Congress workers formed illegal assembly near S K M Junction here and created trouble for the general public. Manipal sub-inspector, Sridhar M P, complained that Congress leaders had urged auto rickshaw drivers near Manipal Tiger Circle to support the bandh, with the objective of causing riots and disturb public peace. A number of provisions of Indian Penal Code have been invoked against them.

BJP town unit president, Prabhakar Poojary, said that he came to know that about 25 Congress workers were assaulting BJP worker, Shivaraj. "When I reached there, the accused snatched away party flags from my hand, dropped them down, and crushed them under their feet. An unidentified person who was seated in Prakhyath Shetty's car then hit my head with an iron rod with the intent of killing me, besides posing me death threat," he explained. A case based on this complaint was registered in the town police station.

A case was also registered in the town station on the basis of complaint made by Congress activist, Gopal Poojary, who claimed that Prabhakar Poojary and other BJP workers who arrived near Bannanje Circle in Omni car, hit him in the head with stone, kicked him, and threatened to kill him. Jayananda from Kalsanka complained that Congress leaders and workers forcibly closed down his business. On the basis of complaint made by Chaithra Kundapur about atrocities, a complaint was registered in the women's police station here.

Caning was necessary – SP

Nimbargi stated that caning was resorted to as there was apprehension of the situation going out of control. He said that the town is calm now, and two contingents of KSRP have been posted in the town and another contingent at Kundapur. At the same time, Chikkamagaluru superintendent of police, Annamalai, has arrived in the district to monitor the situation, he added.