More than 12 hours after violent communal clashes, normalcy has returned to Belagavi, in North Karnataka. Heavy police deployment continues across the city, where the winter session of the Karnataka legislative assembly is currently underway. Two companies of Central Armed Reserve Police (CRPF) were deployed in the city on 16 November, senior police officers said.
TG Krishna Bhat, Belagavi police commissioner, said that investigators have detained around 20 people in the case and interrogation of the suspects are currently underway.
Night of Violence
Violence broke out in the area at around 9:45 pm on 15 November, after two groups got into an argument that soon escalated to both sides pelting stones and vandalising property.
Clashes began at Khadak Galli and spread to the neighbouring Chavat Galli and Bhadakal Galli. “The entire incident has taken place locality spread over a radius of half and kilometre. The violence spread from street to streets, which took time control. The clashes began around 9.45 pm and we were able to bring the situation under control within an hour,” Belagavi police commissioner Bhat said.
At least two policemen were injured, over five vehicles were torched, and more than 20 houses were vandalised during the violence that lasted for over an hour, police said. The two injured policemen are currently going treatment at a private hospital. No other injuries have been reported in the case so far, said Bhat.
Police teams investigating.
(Photo: The Quint)
Why Did Clashes Break Out?
Even as the investigation into the cause of the case is underway, representatives of the Muslim community approached the commissioner alleging that tearing of posters of Tipu Sultan by an unidentified a group led to the clashes.
However, the commissioner said that the reason behind the clashes could be confirmed only after an investigation.
“They have given their inputs, but our teams are investigating the case. As we have some suspects in the case in our custody, we will be able to get to bottom of the case soon,” he said.
Senior police officers said that additional forces, including CRPF, were deployed to ensure no fresh violence takes place in the areas that are communally sensitive and to ensure smooth conduct of the legislative assembly proceedings.
(This is a developing story and will be updated)
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