From CT correspondent
BANTWAL : As many as 12 persons were seriously injured, while a few vehicles and shops damaged in incidents of violence reported from B.C Road area since Sunday evening when
a dispute over an umpire decision during the volleyball match of the Dasara sports meet held at the Modankaup Deepika High School, got communal overtones, culminating in rumour mills spinning that a few girls have been subject to eve-teasing.
Additional police forces have been deployed to the spot and police are maintaining a strict vigil in the area. Ban orders have also been imposed under Section 144 in the area. Meanwhile, all shops and commercial establishments in the town have downed their shutters in the town since Sunday evening. SP Subrahmanyeshwara Rao too is camping in the area.
Reports reveal that an autorickshaw, a motorbike, a petty shop and another shop located in a building were damaged during the violence,
The injured persons namely Anup, Arzan, Azmeen, Keshava, Gopalkrishna and Seetaram have been admitted to private hospitals in Mangalore and Bantwal. Meanwhile, the condition of one of them is said to be critical and he is being treated at the ICU of a hospital.
Eve-teasing the cause ?
The taluk level Dasara sports meet being held at the Modankaup Deepika High School was attended by men and women sportsmen. However, a decision by the umpire during a volleyball match created furore when an objection was raised leading to a clash between Shantiangady and Pallamajalu teams. Though the issue was initially settled through talks and the sports meet continued, yet another dispute cropped up when there arose a rumour that some girls had been teased.
Initially, it is leant there was a verbal duel and fracas between Bantwal’s councilor Mohammad Sharief’s brother Salam and a certain Keshav. Soon after this, a group belonging to a particular community was seen near the Modankaup railway over bridge attacking the ongoers and other vehicles with stones and other lethal weapons. Nearly 12 people including a student of Maninalkur college who was returning in his motorbike after attending the sports meet, were injured.
The news of the attack spread like wild fire and miscreants went on rampage in BC Road soon enough, creating tense moments for the roadside traders whose goods were destroyed. Even a shop near the bus stand was attacked
Police sources revealed that the situation still remains tense though under control. So far no arrests have been made. The sports meet has been cancelled.
Related news:
