JOIN USMiscreants set afire as many as 13 shops on the roadside in the early hours of Thursday, hours after a group clash related to a religious ceremony at Tokkottu near Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district.
A group of people had placed buntings and flags in connection with the Brahmakalashotsava celebrations of a temple at KC Road Junction on Wednesday night.
Another group of people opposed this and pelted them with stones, resulting into a clash between members of both the groups. In the melee, several vehicles passing the Kasaragodu-Mangaluru highway faced trouble.
Cops injured
A few cops, who had arrived at the spot to bring the situation on control, were also injured in the clash. Cops Chandra Nayak, Kamalaksha and Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohan Das received serious injuries and have been hospitalised. A few cops belonging to the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) are also injured. A couple of residents from the same area, identified as Dinesh and Madhav, are also injured in the clash. The new vehicle belonging to the Police department was also pelted with stones.
Security has been beefed up and additional police force has been deployed in the area. Senior police officials are also camping.
A few hours after the incident, as many as 13 shops near the railway track on KC Road were set afire by unknown persons at around 2 am.
All the shops have been gutted in the fire and goods worth lakhs of rupees are destroyed. Local people alerted the Fire and Emergency personnel, who arrived on the spot and doused the fire.
A case has been registered in this regard at the Ullal police station. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 has been promulgated in the area.
Speaking with mediapersons, after inspecting the areas, Health Minister U T Khadar said that two CCTV cameras installed in the spot will help nail down the persons behind the act.
“Since, shops belonging to people from various backgrounds and castes have been gutted in the fire, the incident cannot be termed as communal,” he said and added that temporary arrangements will be made for the shopkeepers to continue their business. Also, measures will be taken to construct permanent shops with the help of donors and philanthropists, he added.