More than 10 people were injured, while several shops and vehicles were damaged in a group clash during a protest against the desecration of a picture of B R Ambedkar at Honganuru in the district on Thursday.
Police resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells to control the mob. Violence broke out between two groups, when the villagers were staging a protest in front of the primary health centre.
A group of youths attacked a few shops, torched them and pelted stones. In the melee, more than 10 people were injured and were taken to the Chamarajanagar district hospital for treatment. Five houses, three two-wheelers and more than 12 shops were damaged. The agitators also set a goods vehicle on fire.
Miscreants had tied a footwear to a flexboard having a picture of Ambedkar, put up to mark Ambedkar Jayanti recently. This had led the village residents to call for a protest.
The mob threw stones at a photojournalist and reporter of a TV channel.
Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Kumar R Jain made several attempts to pacify the agitators, but in vain. They demanded that district incharge Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad, MP R Dhruvanarayan and MLAs visit the village.
Police and KSRP personnel resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells. Police have beefed up security in the village.
Three KSRP battalions from Mysuru have been deployed in the village. Deputy Commissioner B Ramu, who held talks with both the groups, promised that the culprits would be arrested soon.
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