MES activists rebuild plaque, pelt police with stones

Emboldened by lack of adequate security near the plaque site, Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) activists and supporters reconstructed the controversial ‘Maharashtra State Yellur’ plaque at Yellur Village in Belgaum Taluk on Saturday, barely 24 hours of it being demolished by the district administration.

Bursting crackers and raising anti-Karnataka slogans following the reconstruction of the plaque, MES activists, largely comprising youth and women armed with stones and chilli powder, also rained stones on police personnel and van stationed for securing the place, forcing the policemen to flee the spot, fearing for their lives.

Media personnel attempting to enter the village were also not spared by the activists who blocked the road about three kilometres away from the village.

The district administration, under police protection, had demolished the plaque on Friday after the High Court of Karnataka had questioned about the measures taken to remove the plaque, following a public interest litigation by social activist Bhimappa Gadad.

Raising slogans against Karnataka government and hailing Maharashtra, the activists in an hour’s time, completed construction of the plaque, inscribing Maharashtra State Yellur on it, as also hoisting a saffron flag atop it.

Despite tense situation prevailing on the village road till evening, none of the senior officials from district administration or police department made efforts to prevent people from blocking the road and restore normalcy.

Superintendent of Police Chandragupta said children and women were used for reconstructing the plaque. Soon senior officials would hold a meeting to find permanent solution for the issue.

Buses traffic normal

Meanwhile, movement of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses towards Maharashtra and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) towards the State commenced on Saturday with no untoward incidents being reported.

Five KSRTC buses were stoned in Kolhapur on Friday in retaliation to the removal of ‘Yellur Maharashtra State’ plaque at Yellur village in Belgaum taluk.

It had led KSRTC buses operating up to the state border and MSRTC buses plying in minimum number and restricting movements up to the border, anticipating trouble.

North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) Belgaum Divisional Controller P R Mahajan said department officials, along with police department officials, were evaluating the situation in Nippani town on the inter-state border for buses to ply from the State towards Maharashtra.

Commuters were issued tickets up to Nippani and informed that, based on the situation, buses would ply further. But no untoward incidents were reported and the movement has been normal.

NWKRTC Chikodi Divisional Controller T G Kempananjaiah said, after the damage to five KSRTC buses at Kolhapur on Friday, bus movement had been affected. But the situation was normal on Saturday and buses, both of KSRTC and MSRTC, were plying on both sides.