Clashes between Hindus and Muslim groups over a poster of Vinayak Savarkar led to violence in Shivamogga, with one person stabbed.
The violence took a bloody turn when a Hindu man was stabbed by unidentified persons. (Representational Image/Creative Commons)
Violence marred Independence Day celebrations in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka as Hindu and Muslim groups clashed, leading to prohibitory orders being clamped there.
The violence took a bloody turn when a Hindu man was stabbed by unidentified persons. The victim, the police officials said, is under treatment in hospital.
“Two groups indulged in a clash and we had to resort to a mild baton charge. One group left the spot but the other continued to stay put and protest. We have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Shivamogga city and Bhadravathi town for the next two days. Nobody is allowed to gather in groups,” Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Laxmi Prasad told reporters on Monday.
He added that the police were trying to ascertain the facts on the stabbing incident.
An attempt by Hindutva groups to put up a banner of Vinayak Savarkar at the Ameer Ahmed circle in Shivamogga sparked strife.
Members of Muslim outfits attempted to replace Savarkar’s banner with Tipu Sultan’s, leading to a full-fledged clash between the two groups.
“After police intervention, the Muslim groups left the place, but the Hindu groups refused to move and sat in protest. They asked the police why Savarkar’s portrait was allowed to be removed. Later in the day, a stabbing incident was reported, but the victim is now recovering. We are ascertaining the connection between the two,” a senior police official told South First.
The victim, 26-year-old Prem, was rushed to hospital after unidentified persons stabbed him in the Upparakere locality of the city.
Shivamogga District Commissioner R Selvakumar has ordered the closure of schools and colleges on Tuesday. The prohibitory orders are expected to continue till 18 August.
The communal flare-up on Independence Day came close on the heels of three controversial communal murders in the Dakshin Kannada district of Karnataka.
Earlier this year, Shivamogga saw clashes between Hindus and Muslims following the murder of a Hindutva outfit worker named Harsha.
Security has been tightened across Shivamogga following Monday’s violence.
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