Kundapur, Dec 3: Hundreds of people took to the streets in Udupi's coastal town of Gangaolli on Wednesday to exert pressure on the government and police department to nab the culprits responsible for last week's arson attack that destroyed a commercial complex owned by a Masjid.
A large number of burqa-clad women also took part in the protest organized under the joint auspices of various local Muslim organisations.
The protesters, who kept on raising slogans for hours, accused the police department of practicing bias-based policing and safeguarding the interest of communal forces.
“Even though police know who is responsible for the towns worst arson attack, they did not make any attempt to arrest them,” said one of the protesters warning that they will intensify their protest against the injustice meted out to the Muslim community by local police.
Issuing one day deadline to the police to take action against the culprits, the protesters warned that if the cops failed to nab the miscreants within 24 hours, they would lay siege to police station.
The protesters also handed over a petition to the Assistant Commissioner Charulatha Somal demanding him to take immediate action against the culprits and to take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in future. Tahasildar Gayathri Nayak and Kundapur circle inspector Divakar P M also were present on the occasion.
At least six shops of a Jamia Complex managed by Jamia Masjid management committee in Gangolli, were gutted in fire last Saturday after midnight arson attack. The losses suffered have been estimated at around Rs 2 crores.
The incident had escalated communal tensions in the relatively peaceful town, which had also seen a clash a clash between two groups of youth belonging to different communities two days prior to the incident.
Related: Communal tension intensifies in Gongolli after miscreants set fire to Masjid complex
Comments
Add new comment