Tension in Nagamangala town: 52 people have been arrested after violent clashes between two communities during a Ganesh Chaturthi procession in Nagamangala town of Karnataka’s Mandya district. The violence led to large-scale vandalism, with reports of shops belonging to Hindus, bike showrooms and clothing stores being set on fire.
According to a report by India Today, the clashes started when a group from Badrikoppalu village was taking out a Ganpati procession. As the procession passed near a mosque on the main road in Nagamangala, it was stopped for some time, leading to an argument between the two communities. While the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, tension escalated when members of the Muslim community reportedly gathered in large numbers and started pelting stones at the procession from near the mosque.
Police had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation
On this matter, Mandya SP Mallikarjun Baladandi said, “When the Ganesh procession reached near the mosque, they spent more time there without moving forward. This led to an argument between the members of both the communities. During this, the police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd. In such a situation, due to the large number of people, the police had to lathi-charge to control the situation.
After the lathicharge, people protested in front of the police station
SP Baladandi said, “After the lathicharge, people protested in front of the police station. Due to which people of other community also gathered in large numbers and started pelting stones. They also set fire to some bikes and shops on the roadside, at present, the situation is now completely under control. He said, ‘We have adequate police force and fire brigade vehicles are also present at the spot. No one has been seriously injured, only a few people have suffered minor injuries.
The situation is under control and peaceful- Home Minister
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the situation is now under control and peaceful. He said, “The police have taken the situation under control. In which 52 people have been arrested. He said, ‘Some people pelted stones during the Ganesh procession. At present, a contingent of KSRP has been deployed in the area and all precautionary measures have been taken.
