Karnataka: Eid procession with Tipu portrait sparks violence in Shivamogga; Section 144 in force

A Tipu statue led to late night tensions in Karnataka’s Shivamogga on Sunday after stones were thrown at an Eid Milad procession. Four people were injured in the incident and Section 144 has been imposed in the Ragigudda area.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Shivamogga SP Mithun Kumar said, “There was a stone pelting incident in Ragigudda last evening. However, we managed to disperse the crowd and the situation is under control now. Around four to five people sustained minor injuries. Section 144 is in force in Ragi Gudda to prevent any untoward incident.”

Trouble began earlier in the day when a portrait of Tipu Sultan was erected at Raggigudda-Shantinagar on the outskirts of the city.

ಕಾವೇರಿ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗೆಹರಿಸಲು ಆದ್ಯತೆ ನೀಡದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕೋಮು ಗಲಭೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಕುಮ್ಮಕ್ಕು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಖಂಡನೀಯ.

ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತಾಂಧ ಟಿಪ್ಪುವಿನ ಕಟೌಟ್, ತಲ್ವಾರ್ ಕಮಾನುಗಳನ್ನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಸರ್ವ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ತೋಟವನ್ನು ಸಮಾಜಘಾತುಕರ ತಾಣವಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡಲು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ… pic.twitter.com/DBJIJqy8Tb

— Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan (@drashwathcn) October 1, 2023

As people started gathering, a flare-up became imminent. Shivamogga SP GK Mithun Kumar reached out to the leaders and urged them to persuade the youths to “have peaceful Eid Milad celebrations.” The senior official told the organisers of the celebration to put a cloth over the stature and police started patrolling the area with the aim of dispersing the groups.

A few hours later, a Muslim youth reportedly used his blood to write the words ‘Sher Tipu’ on the portrait, the Times Of India reported.

At around 8 pm, an Eid Milad procession reached Rajgudda when a group of miscreants started throwing stones at the procession. In response, some youths from the procession also pelted stones, which hit nearby houses.

A mild police lathi-charge led to dispersing of the crowds. The Shivamogga SP said that the four people who were injured were admitted to McGann Hospital.

Source : Times Now