Mandya Violence: Tensions flared in Nagamangala town of Karnataka‘s Mandya district, on Wednesday over a Ganpati Visarjan procession, where two groups clashed, PTI reported. It said stones were allegedly thrown at the procession, leading to violent clashes and law and order disturbance. Authorities immediately clamped Section 144 in the area to prevent further escalation.
Stone Pelting Sparks Violence During Ganpati Visarjan in Nagamangala
A report quoted by India Today says the clash began when a group from Badarikoppalu village was performing visarjan with the idol. As the procession passed through the main road in Nagamangala, stones were pelted reportedly from a place close to a mosque. This led to a heated fight with the shops being vandalised and two vehicles torched.
Contingents of police had to be deployed to control the situation. The tension, however remained high with members of the Hindu community staging a protest outside the police station and asking for an immediate arrest of the accused involved in stone-pelting.
Investigation Underway, Miscreants Detained in Nagamangala
MB Boralingaiah, South Division IGP said, “Prohibitory orders imposed in Mandya district’s Nagamangala after a group of miscreants set shops on fire, and two police staff were injured. I have no information related to the machete or other weapons used in the clash. Investigation is underway. We are verifying the reasons for the instigation, our officers are on duty. We have detained a few people and a search is going on. Restriction orders will continue,” as reported by news agency ANI.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar said, “Incident took place in the evening during the Ganesha procession. When the procession reached near a mosque, a few miscreants pelted stones. This has come to our notice. Later there was also a protest. IG, SP and I have visited the spot. We are taking all the measures to control the situation. 2-3 shops were set on fire. As a precautionary measure, Sec 144 CrPC will remain imposed till Sept 14. We are investigating this. Because of fire, there is power cut. I have spoken to GESCOM (Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited),” as quoted by ANI.
This incident comes a day after a similar case was reported in Surat, Gujarat, where protests broke out after stones were thrown at a Lord Ganesha idol in a pandal. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi said police had arrested all six suspects who threw stones at the Surat pandal, and also 27 others who were accused of inciting violence. The incident at Nagamangala has sparked off apprehensions about communal harmony and calls for peace and quick action by the law-enforcing machinery.