Mangalore, January 23: Currents of communal tensions once again swept parts of Dakshina Kannada district on Monday, as a group of miscreants stormed into small shops run by minority community at Mugaradka village in Belthangady Tauluk.
The village is only a few kilo metre away from Uppinangady, where at least seven people including police personnel had injured in the aftermath of Hindu Samajotsava on Sunday.
The latest incident of mob frenzy was occurred following two suspected chain snatcher were caught red-handed at the Mugaradka Jaathre (religious fair), which was known for harmony and peaceful celebrations for several decades.
After catching the miscreants who were allegedly trying to snatch a woman's chain, local people had handed them over to the management committee of the Mugaradka Temple, which supervises the fair.
A police team headed by Puttur ASP M N Anucheth rushed to the spot and arrested the alleged chain-snatchers identified as Althaf and Nazeer, residents of Valalu.
When a group of people belonging to a communal outfit came to know that the miscreants had Muslim names, they demanded the police to handover the miscreants to them. They also took temple authorities to task for 'being soft towards Muslims', it is learnt. Meanwhile a clash was erupted between two groups.
As the situation turned volatile, the police resorted to baton charge and dispersed the mob.
At this time a group of miscreants attacked the local shops owned by Muslims. They also pelted stones at shops and police personnel, who rushed to the spot.
Sources from Puttur police station said that at least two people were injured and four police vehicles were damaged during the stone pelting. Many shops were also damaged in the incident.
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