Shreya Varanasi, Pune
In connection to the communal clashes that broke out during the Ganpati procession in Mandya district of Karnataka, the police have detained 52 people. The tension between the two groups during the procession in Nagamangala town drove the police to impose restrictions in the area.
According to the initial information, some Badarikoppalu village residents were leading a procession to immerse the Ganpati idol. As the procession passed down Nagamangala’s main street, stones were thrown at them, allegedly from near a mosque. The situation escalated, sparking disputes between the two parties. Some individuals trashed stores and set fire to two vehicles. Police tried to get the scene under control. Angry Hindus protested at the police station. As a form of protest, some Hindu youngsters put the Ganesh statue in front of the police station.
There were disagreements amongst members of the two groups about this. Police interfered, attempting to disperse the crowd. Due to the enormous number of individuals, the police had to use lathi charge to contain the situation. Following that, protesters gathered in front of the police station. “Members of the other community also gathered in large numbers and started throwing stones. They even torched a few bikes and shops on the roadside,” said Mallikarjun Baladandi, Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP) told India Today.
Police announced a high alert in the region following the incident. They implemented section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (an order issued in urgent circumstances of annoyance or suspected danger) with hopes of bringing the situation under control. According to a report by Times of India, the Ganesha idols have been temporarily put near a temple instead of being immersed as devotees call for the arrest of those who disrupted the procession.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly reacted to the situation in a post shared on his official handle on the platform X. In the post, he stated that his government has taken serious notice of the violence that occurred during the Ganesh idol immersion procession at Nagamangala in the Mandya district. He, further, called the incident an act of miscreants endangering peace in society.
This incident from Karnataka comes just a few days after six minors were arrested in Surat for allegedly pelting stones at a Ganesh pandal which led to similar clashes.