Cops cane as bandh turns violent in Somwarpet, Madikeri

The Kodagu bandh call given by the district BJP unit, condemning the assault on Kodagu BJP district unit President Suja Kushalappa, turned violent in Somwarpet and Madikeri on Friday.

 The police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd in Kagadikatte in Somwarpet and General Thimmaiah Circle in Madikeri, on Friday. 

Kushalappa, brother of MLA Appachu Ranjan was shot at and injured by four-member gang near the sub registrar’s office on Thursday evening. 

In the violence that erupted on Friday, a few miscreants attacked three grocery shops and a hotel owned by people belonging to other community, who were carrying out business, at Kagadikatte near Somwarpet. They also assaulted the owner of a shop, said an eye witness.

 In retaliation to the assault, a few persons from other community tried to create choas using lethal weapons. However, to disperse the crowd, the police resorted to lathi-charge. The police have taken 10 persons into custody from both communities and both the communities have filed separate complaints. 

Assault in Madikeri

A few miscreants assaulted two persons belonging to a particular community while walking on the road at General Thimmaiah Circle at 4 pm. The injured have been recuperating in the district hospital. However, the bandh in Virajpet, Napoklu, Gonikoppa, Kushalnagar was peaceful. But, the business establishments remained closed. The roads wore a deserted look. In fact, children were seen playing on the road, at a few places. 

IGP visits

Mysore range IGP Dr Ramachandra Rao who visited Madikeri following clashes, said that there were five members in a team which assaulted Suja Kushalappa. All are said to be localites. “We have collected information and the accused are likely to be arrested in two days.” The car used by the miscreants has been found in a coffee estate near Kaggodlu. There were three lethal weapons, seven monkey caps, ‘panche,’ and one live bullet. 

Dr Rao visited Virajpet, the spot where he was shot and also discussed the issue with SP N M Anucheth. 

The bandh affected those literary enthusiasts who had come to Madikeri to take part in 80th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana and were wishing to enjoy the nature in Kodagu by visiting tourist spots. 

As the district BJP unit had taken the decision on Thursday night, the police and KSRTC staff had made arrangements for the delegates to return to their native places. Buses were arranged to Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. “About 90 per cent of the delegates were sent out of the district safely. A few were sent in a special bus at 11.30 am from KSRTC depot.” The bandh was withdrawn after 5 pm.