Police clamp ban orders in Hunsur following group clash

The town police on Friday clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC following a group clash. The ban order will be in force till 8 am on Saturday.

Tension erupted on Friday morning, when a group youth of a community tried to tie green flags and buntings at major streets, circles and places of worship.  The youth of another community raised an objection and this lead to an altercation.

In a move to maintain law and order, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinav Khare and Deputy Commissioner (DC) C Shikha clamped ban orders under Section 144. The vegetable market, petty shops and other business were closed down.

A large number of youths had gathered at Karigowda Beedi, Chikkahunasuru, Marigudi Beedi and Saraswathipuram Layout. However, police personnel, who arrived on the spot, resorted to caning to disperse the crowd. A group at Karigowda Beedi set a tyre on fire to express its anguish. The taluk administration removed the flags and buntings fixed on Devaraja Urs statue and government offices.

Meanwhile, a group of 10 youths, which had assaulted a man by name Mahadev on the outskirts of the town, was arrested by the police on Friday.

Mahadev, 40, a resident of V P Bore in Hunsur, was bound for work. According to Mahadev, a group of 10 youths  attacked him with lethal weapons. He was rushed to a hospital by passersby.

MP meets victim
MP Pratap Simha met Mahadev at the hospital and enquired about his health. Speaking to reporters, he said, assaulting a person for no reason and raising slogans against the nation had hurt the sentiments of the people.

During Hanuma Jayanti, on Thursday, no Hindu tried to paste buntings or flags on mosques and the celebrations were peaceful. But, a few Muslims hurt Hindu sentiments by trying to hoist a green flag on a temple premises, he alleged.

He also alleged that some police personnel were inciting communal violence and senior officials should take action against them.

SP, DC meet
The Police department and district administration will take severe action against using community flags as they are leading to violence, said SP Khare and DC Shikha at a meeting in Hunsur.

In a joint press conference, they said, the district administration had successfully maintained peace, law and order during Hanuma Jayanti. But, a few culprits hoisted flags in the place of worship, to disturb communal harmony and provoking violence. With the hoisting of flags on government offices and on statue of Devaraja Urs, they have violated law, the SP said.