One dead, 19 injured in communal clash

One person was killed and 19 others, including policemen, injured when an argument over the tearing of a banner led to clashes between two communities at Kanyakollur village in Shahapur taluk on Friday morning.

Members belonging to two communities clashed over the tearing of a banner wishing people on Sankranti. They resorted to stone throwing, leaving one Deveendrappa Bheemappa Dalapathi (50) dead and eight others injured. As many as 11 policemen, including Shahapur police station Inspector J S Nyamagowda and PSI Doddappagowda, who tried to bring the situation under control, were also injured and a police van was damaged in the melee.

A large number of people protested when the body of Deveendrappa was brought to the government hospital. The protesters took to streets and placed the body at Basaveshwara Circle and staged a rasta roko. A tense situation gripped the town for some time. Deputy Commissioner F R Jamadar, Superintendent of Police C Vanshikrishna and MLA Guru Patil Shirawal rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protesters.

The deputy commissioner handed over a cheque of Rs 3.75 lakh to the family of the deceased. An additional amount of Rs 1.25 lakh will also be offered, he said. 

IGP Mohammad Wazir Ahmed, who inspected the village, told Deccan Herald that the situation was under control. As many as 400 police personnel had been deployed and the last rites of the victim will be performed after the post-mortem. None have been arrested so far, he added.