By Shaik Zakeer Hussain, TwoCircles.net,
Bijapur: A BJP sponsored revelry took an ugly turn yesterday in Karnataka’s Bijapur district, resulting in clashes between party supporters and members of the Muslim community. According to the police, over a dozen people sustained injuries, and an unconfirmed report claims that at least one man has succumbed to the clash.
(Courtesy: HT)
According to a local source, who did not want to be named, the incident occurred on Monday late afternoon, when a ‘victory march’ led by former Karnataka Minister Basangouda Patil Yatnal, reached the Muslim dominated Gandhi Chowk Market, playing songs, which called for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The party workers were raising slogans of victory, and applying gulaal (coloured powder) on passers-by, and vendors in the market, when the coloured powder fell on some women belonging to the minority community.The enraged members of the community, the source said, retaliated by throwing fruits at the BJP workers, before both started throwing stones at each other.
(Courtesy: HT)
The BJP party workers and supporters then went on a rampage damaging parked vehicles, and push cart stalls, forcing everyone in and around Gandhi Chowk, Shivaji Chowk and Basaveshwar Road to shut down all shops and business establishments.
According to our source, today a Muslim mob from the neighboring Solapur from Maharashtra entered the city with a clear intention of vitiating an already incensed environment. The police, we were told have taken control of the situation, and the mob has been dispersed. Prohibitory orders under section 144 (CrPC) have been imposed for three days.
District-in-charge minister M B Patil urged people to maintain peace, and not listen to any rumors. He also said he has instructed police to take action against people responsible for the clash.
