JOIN USFive persons including a police sub-inspector sustained injuries in a clash between Muslim youth and BJP workers at Bengre, Mangaluru, on Tuesday night.
It all happened when a group of BJP workers from Thota Bengre were returning home from Malpe in five buses from the fishermen convention, addressed by party national president Amit Shah. A group of youth in Kasaba Bengre objected to the party workers raising slogans. Soon, a clash ensued between the two groups. However, elders from both the villages pacified the two groups. But, as news about the clash began to spread, a group allegedly assaulted a youth who had gone to buy petrol for his vehicle. This attack raised the tempers and resulted in stone throwing from both sides in which four persons and Panambur police station SI Poovappa were injured. Police had to fire nine rounds in the air to disperse the mob.
Once again after midnight, stones were thrown on a place of worship. City Police Commissioner T R Suresh along with other senior police officers rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
"There was stone throwing from both the sides. The police have booked suo motu case on stone pelting after four persons suffered injuries. Members of both the communities have filed complaints against each other," the commissioner said.
As a precautionary measure, four KSRP platoons and additional police personnel have been deployed in Bengre.