19 arrested for group clash

However, the police have kept a strict vigil at sensitive places like Vinobanagar, Gandhinagar and Azadnagar areas. Even surrounding areas wore a deserted look as shopkeepers surrounding these areas had voluntarily pulled the shutters down and many preferred to stay indoors.

As many as eight Karnataka State Reserve Police battalions including 500 armed reserve personnel have been deployed in the areas. Since many local police are on poll duty, as many as 120 police personnel from neighbouring Tamil Nadu were brought to the city.
The police have arrested 19 persons (17 from a community) in connection with the incident. “The number of arrests may go up. Police have spread a manhunt for the accused and are searching for the weapons used during the clash,” said East Range IGP H N Sathyanarayan Rao.

Prohibitory orders
As a preventive measure, prohibitory orders clamped on the district will continue for three days. The district administration has issued orders in this regard.

In the meantime, journalists and members of District Reporters’ Guild who suffered injuries during the incident have lodged a complaint with the police. They also submitted a memorandum to IGP Rao and district superintendent of Police H S Venkatesh urging to bring the guilty to book, soon.