Belgaum village tense after vandalism
Violent incidents were reported from Yellur village in Belgaum taluk on Wednesday after some unidentified persons vandalised a plaque, which declared that the village was part of Maharashtra.
The entrance to Yellur village had a Marathi plaque reading ‘Maharashtra Rajya Yellur.’ The plaque has been there since 1986 and attempts had been made to remove it.
After Tuesday midnight, unidentified persons damaged the plaque.
As the news of the incident spread, local residents and Marathi-speaking leaders from the village gathered at the spot and got the plaque restored.
Villagers, without ascertaining who had damaged the plaque, rained stones on police vehicles standing guard outside the village.
They also threw stones on houses belonging to dalits in Ambedkarnagar. This led to a clash between the caste Hindus and dalits.
Two persons were injured in the incident. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil told Deccan Herald that situation in the village was under control.
10 MES men arrested
Belgaum Rural police arrested 10 activists of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on charges of stoning the houses of dalits. Cases have been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes/Tribes Act, against 17 MES activists.
Following a suggestion from the police, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation suspended bus services to Vadgaon, Yellur, Angol, Tilakwadi, Dhamnae, Uchgaon, Belgundi, Kinaye and others villages.
