Protest against temple rape turns violent; saffron groups stage counter protest; Simha blames SDPI

Mysuru, Apr 21: A protest organized by a some Muslim groups against the rape and murder of an 8-year-old in Kathua temple, took a violent turn on Friday at communally sensitive Kyatamaranahalli area in Mysuru.

The Mysuru City police have clamped prohibitory orders under Udayagiri police station jurisdiction following a group clash wherein a police inspector and seven constables were also injured.

It is alleged that the protesters tried to forcefully close the shops during their march at Mandi Mohalla, Meena Bazaar and other places. When the protest march reached Kyatamaranahalli Tent Circle, a clash erupted between the protesters and the local saffron activists.

Vijayanagar Police Inspector Anil Kumar and seven other policemen sustained injuries in the stone pelting. The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

Following the incident, members of a so-called Hindutva groups staged a counter-protest. BJP Yuva Morcha state chief and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha alleged that scores of Muslims attacked Hindus and ransacked a few shops.

“A few Muslim community people, holding weapons like machete, roamed around in the Hindu residential areas under the Narasimharaja constituency. They also threw stones at houses, women and children. They are trying to create fear among the Hindus,” he charged.

Simha suspected the hand of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in the violence, for political gains.

Simha, who staged a protest at Kyatamaranahalli Circle, said the trouble-mongers tried to attack him thrice when he was staging the protest. “We would have supported the protest if it was organised to condemn the rape and murder of the girl. But, the protest has been organised for political gains. The protesters want to create a fear among the people in the area. Where were these protesters, when Hindu girls were raped and murdered?” he questioned.