Violence erupts in Karnataka over Ganesh immersion, 54 held

NAGAMANGALA: After clashes between two communities during a Ganesh idol-immersion procession in Nagamangala in Karnataka's Mandya district Wednesday evening left a cop injured and shops and vehicles damaged, an uneasy calm, helped by heavy police presence, descended on the town on Thursday.

Mandya deputy commissioner Kumar said prohibitory orders have been imposed and sale of liquor banned in Nagamangala till Friday. Commercial establishments and schools remained closed Thursday. VHP and Bajrang Dal have announced a bandh in Nagamangala on Friday.

Cops registered at least 10 FIRs and arrested 54 persons on charges of rioting, murder attempt, damage to public property, assault, preventing a policeman from discharging duties, and unlawful assembly in violence that broke out on Wednesday evening.

"The situation is under control now. We have deployed enough force and taken all precautionary measures," Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Mandya SP Mallikarjun Baladandi said the police is investigating whether the violence was premeditated.

Over 300 police personnel will continue to monitor Nagamangala, 45km from Mandya and 120km from Bengaluru, till the weekend.

The violence started when a group allegedly hurled stones during the procession near a mosque on Mysuru Road. According to Baladandi, the altercation occurred when those taking part in the procession stopped near a dargah and started dancing. A dispute arose when another group demanded that the procession move ahead, leading to a standoff that was resolved by police.

Later, the devotees' group involved in the procession protested in front of Nagamangala police station, accusing police of "obstructing" their procession. Police allowed the procession to continue, but two groups suddenly started throwing stones at each other. The situation turned worse when arsonists allegedly started targeting shops, 25 in all, and damaged eight motorcycles, two cars and as many autorickshaws.

An SI sustained minor injuries, and the residence of former MLA and JDS leader Suresh Gowda was damaged in the incident.

Meanwhile, police are facing allegations of negligence for allowing a procession to pass through a sensitive area, despite a previous clash, in 2023. Police's alleged failure to learn from past has come under scrutiny. A senior officer denied granting permission for the procession to go near the mosque. However, the participants in the procession took a U-turn near Mysuru Road and approached the mosque, leading to the subsequent events, sources said.

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