Group clash in Bantwal; 15 hurt

Section 144 clamped after stones were hurled at shops; situation under control

As many as 15 persons were injured in the incident. The injured include Anoop, Janaki, Seetharam, Gopalakrishna, Monappa, Keshav, Arzan, Azwin, Jaffer and Sharif. All the injured are being treated at the private hospitals in Mangalore.

It is said that a group of youths of one community were allegedly teasing girls from another community which was objected by one Keshava at Dasara sports meet, organised by the Department of Public Instructions and Youth Service Department at Modankaup near B C Road.

Though the matter was solved amicably, some miscreants assaulted Keshava at Modankaup while he was sitting in an autorickshaw and damaged the autorickshaw. Meanwhile, the sports meet where kabaddi, kho-kho and throwball matches were held also witnessed quarrel between two teams over a referee’s decision. After the sports meet, miscreants started throwing stones at the people and shops near B C Road, Kollaramajalu and Kaikamba. In B C Road, some miscreants even tried to close the shops forcibly.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, SP Dr A S Rao said additional forces have been deployed in the region. “As a precautionary measure, we have imposed section 144. The situation is under control”, he said.