Muharram flag triggers communal clash: 2 corporators among 31 arrested

Belagavi, Oct 13: A tense atmosphere prevailed in the city after hoisting of green flags near Shetty Galli area as part of Muharram celebration led to communal clashes in the region.

Nearly a dozen vehicles, including a police jeep were damaged in the incidents of stone pelting and arson. Miscreants damaged three auto-rickshaws, set another on fire, stoned four four-wheelers and a police jeep.

Following a heated arguments, the two groups belonging to different religious communities took to stone throwing at Shetty Galli. The violence spread to other sensitive areas of the city such as Bhadkal Galli, Chavat Galli, Khadak Galli and Darbar Galli on Tuesday night, the police said.

The trouble began when a group of people belonging to hardline Hindutva outfits staged protest and pelted stones when the Muharram flags were hoisted at the Shetty Galli corner. Sad part is, the clash took place when people celebrating holy festivals Dasara and Muharram.

Now the situation is under control with the heavy police security has deployed in the tensed areas including KSRP platoons. Police have taken 31 people belonging to both communities in to the custody including two corporators of Belagavi City Corporation - Mujmil Ahamad Doni of Ward 35 and Amtin Shaikh Ali of Ward 37.

According to local sources, stone pelting started on top roofs at 11.30pm at Chaval Galli, Shetty Galli and Jalagar Galli, and continued for few minutes. At the time, people coming out of homes, police led by DCP Radhika reached the spot and arrested miscreants engaged in creating disturbance. According to police sources, stone pelting began after few minutes of the meeting held by both councillors.

Women stage protest

In the backdrop of incident, women from Chavat Galli and Shetty Galli stage protest in the premises of city police commissioner's office blaming the police for taking innocents into custody. Women also alleged that police entered their houses breaking the doors at midnight and took the family members into custody who were innocent and nothing to do with riot. They urged the commissioner immediate release of innocents.

BJP leaders including MP Suresh Angadi, former MLA Abhay Patil, advocate Anil Benake and Kiran Jadhav visited the areas stone pelting occurred. Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Angadi blamed police for taking biased action. "It looks police are targeting people of one particular community bowing to the political pressure and arresting innocent youths" he said and urged immediate release of innocents.

On Wednesday morning, Belagavi North MLA Feroz Sait and Congress city unit President Asif (Raju) Sait rushed to the police commissioners office and held closed-door discussions with senior officers.