Seer arrest: Security beefed up at Andola, Jewargi

Sri Ram Sene Working President and Andola-based Karuneshwar Mutt Pontiff Siddalinga Swamiji, who has been arrested on charges of abetting an attack on a man belonging to Muslim community on Monday night, has been remanded in judicial custody till November 10, said Northeast Range IGP Alok Kumar.

Addressing a press conference at Jewargi Police station in the district on Tuesday, Kumar said, Nasiruddin Khadarsaab Yalagara was attacked by miscreants in Andola village in Jewargi taluk on October 14. Yalagara, in his complaint to the Jewargi police, had accused the seer of abetting the attack.

Incidentally, Yalagara had lodged a complaint against the seer in 2005. Since then, there was enmity between the seer and Yalagara family. The seer had also given inflammatory speech against Muslim community during the Ganesh idol immersion programme held at Basaveshwara Circle in Jewargi town on September 14 and a case had been registered. However, the seer had managed to get bail in this case.

After the Andola incident, the seer had gone into hiding and police had launched a search operation to trace him.

21 cases

Kumar said, 21 cases had been registered against the seer across the State including at Karwar, Yadgir, Vijaypur and Jewargi police stations.

Following the arrest of the seer, his supporters threw stones at the police on Monday night. Two ASIs, one CPI and 12 police staff were injured in the incident. Two cases were registered in Jewargi police station and one in Nelogi police station in this regard.

As many as 39 people have been detained in the three cases. "Strict action will be taken against those who stir up communal passion and destroy harmony in the society," Kumar said adding that seers should not divide the society on religious lines and rather spread harmony.

Tipu Jayanti

Tipu Jayanti by the state government should be celebrated in a peaceful manner. Permission will not be given for taking out procession at any cost, Kumar added.

Jatra at Andola

The IGP said that strict police security would be provided for Karuneshwara fair and car festival scheduled to be held at Andola on November 8.

6 people held

SP N Shashi Kumar said that six persons had been held for throwing stones at a bus in Jeeratagi in Jewargi taluk.

Tight police security has been provided at Andola and Jewargi to maintain law and order.
Bidar SP Devaraj, Additional SP Jayaprakash, Kalaburagi Rural DySP S S Hullur and others were present on the occasion.

Violence

Following the arrest of the seer on Monday, the Sene workers burnt tyres at Basaveshwara Circle in Jewargi town on Monday night. Tense situation prevailed near Kellur Cross in the taluk on Monday night. Supporters of the seer who were traveling towards Jewargi in five to six tractors and on bikes, after hearing the news of the arrest of the seer and was being brought to Kalaburagi, were stopped near Kellur Cross near Jewargi Town.

However, an irate mob started throwing stones at the police.