JOIN USTen people sustained injuries at Bellur Cross after a clash erupted between two communities of Doddagowdana Koppalu in the taluk, over stone quarrying in Kannenahalli, on Saturday.
Members of Bhovi community and people from upper castes are in a conflict over stone quarrying at Kannenahalli. Even though the permit of quarrying is expired, quarrying has continued. The people of upper castes agitated stating that quarrying will affect the environment and agriculture lands. They also filed complaints with various departments concerned.
The Forest Department officials, who examined the illegal stone quarrying, after identifying the border of forest land, dug a trench to prevent stone mining. But the quarry owners filled the trench and continued quarrying.
On October 11, Bellur police confiscated a tractor from the place and registered a case. On Saturday, while a person from the upper caste was transporting stones on his tractor, he was attacked by members of the Bhovi community near Gangappa Kalyan Mantappa in Bellur. The mob alleged that the stones transported on the tractor were illegally mined. Meanwhile, people from both the communities indulged in a fight, using lethal weapons.
The injured have been admitted to a hospital in Bellur. Tension prevailed at Doddagowdana Koppalu.