Kundapur, Dec 5: Protest and counter-protests following last week's arson attack on a commercial complex belonging to a Masjid have kept communal tensions alive in Gangolli town of Kundapur taluk in Udupi district.
Despite the claims of police that situation is completely under control the provocative slogans raised at a massive protest organized by Hindu Jagarana Vedike and other BJP-backed Hindutva outfits in the town on Thursday have raised alarm bells.
P Rajendra Prasad, Superintendent of Police, said on Friday that the situation in Gangolli town, which saw group clashes on the night of November 27, was peaceful.
Meanwhile two accused including a Hindu Jagarana Vedike arrested by the police were released on bail on Thursday. One was arrested four days ago while another was arrested on December 3 after a massive protest by local Muslims, who had set a deadline of 24 hours to nab the culprits responsible for arson attack and communal clashes.
Tight security measures were in place in the town. Three parties of District Armed Reserve Police, two parties of Karnataka State Reserve Police and 30 commandoes had been pressed into service, according to Mr Prasad.
He said that eight cases had been registered with regard to the November 27 clashes. The investigation into these cases was being done by the Assistant Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai. “The police will take stern action against anyone trying to create communal disharmony or disobeying laws,” he said urging the public to cooperate with police.
Celebration
Meanwhile, a massive protest organized on Thursday by Hindutva activists, gradually turned into celebration after the arrested duo secured bail.
A motorbike rally was also organized in the night by HJV activists to celebrate the “success” of their protest.
The agitators accorded a hero's welcome to the released arson attack accused -Sridhar and Vasu Devadiga- and warned police against taking action against “innocent” Hindutva activists. The released accused were taken in a procession to the Veerashaiva Temple in the town.
The accused Sridhar speaking on the occasion urged the Hindus to marginalize Muslims and break all ties with them. He also urged the Hindus not to purchase anything from the shops belonging to Muslims.
Thanking the Hindutva outfits for staging protest to exert pressure on the police department to release him, he said if all Hindus unite no one can harm them.
He said that Hindutva groups should continue to pressuize police in Gangolli to take action against criminals who belong to Muslim community.
Achuth Amin, the Udupi district president of HJV and Satyajit Surathkal also addressed the gathering and warned the police not to touch any Hindu activists in future.
Violent protest
Prior to this thousands of Hindutva activists took part in a protest rally urging the police to immediately release the two arrested miscreants including HJV leader. The protesters laid siege to the Gangolli police.
A significant number of women also took part in the protest in response to the protest held by local Muslims held in the town on Wednesday.
Stones were pelted and shops belonging to Muslim community were damaged during the rally. Most of the shops shut down and buses were off the roads. The traffic was disrupted for more than four hours in the town thanks to the violent protest. MLC Kota Srinivasa Poojary, BJP district president Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, former MLA Laxminarayana were also part of the rally.
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.
Background:
Gangolli fire: Burqa-clad women take to the streets to protest police inaction
Communal tension intensifies in Gongolli after miscreants set fire to Masjid complex
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