3 die in clashes over Tipu anniversary celebration

Three people died in separate incidents over the last two days and Section 144 was imposed in some places of Kodagu district following violent clashes between two groups over celebration of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary.

Two persons, including a VHP office-bearer, died during a protest against the State government’s decision to celebrate the birth anniversary on Tuesday. Another person, taken to Mysuru for treatment, succumbed to bullet injuries.

On Tuesday, opposing the move to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, the BJP and pro-Hindu organisations had called for voluntary bandh and black day. However, the district administration went ahead with the event at Town Hall in Madikeri.

Muslim members from Kushalnagar, Napoklu, Yemmemadu, Virajpet, Somwarpet, Kodlipete had arrived in Madikeri to take part in the celebrations when miscreants threw stones at a group near the district hospital.

As a result, both the groups were embroiled in a clash. The mob started running helter-skelter after police resorted to lathi charge to control the situation. In the melee, VHP organising secretary Kuttappa (70), fell from a height of 20 feet and died. The post-mortem report will ascertain whether he died of fall or from stone-pelting, police said. During the stone-throwing near the district hospital, Raju, a resident of Kannandabane admitted to the hospital, ventured out to check what was happening. When the stones started falling near him, he tried to move from the place and in the hurry, accidentally fell and died, said an eyewitness.

In another case, Sahil Ahmed, a 25-year-old youth who was returning to his house after attending the anniversary celebration, suffered bullet injuries at Neerakolli near Chettalli. After first aid at Madikeri hospital, he was taken to Mysuru for further treatment. It was not clear how he suffered bullet injuries. “We can’t come to a conclusion as to when he suffered bullet injuries,” police said.

Kodagu district remained shut for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Schools and colleges were closed and the attendance at government offices was minimal. Private and KSRTC buses remained off the road, while shops and business establishments were shut down. The roads wore a deserted look. Kodagu In-charge DC Kurma Rao has extended Section 144 till Thursday.

Somwarpet also experienced stone-throwing. As a result, the Tipu anniversary programme was stopped midway. Miscreants set afire a car at Gonikoppa on Tuesday night. Additional forces were pressed into service in the district.