Six individuals have been arrested in connection with communal violence in Karnataka‘s Dakshina Kannada district that began on Monday, following reports of stone-pelting at two places of worship. The incident occurred in Katipalla town late on Sunday night, where stones were thrown. Authorities acted swiftly to control the situation, and no further incidents have been reported since.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal confirmed the arrests, stating, “Six individuals have been arrested by the Mangaluru police for allegedly pelting stones at a mosque in Katipalla, on the outskirts of Mangaluru. The suspects have been identified as Bharath Shetty, Chennappa, Nithin, Sujith Shetty, Annappa, and Preetham Shetty.” According to the police, the incident took place on Sunday night when a group arrived on motorcycles and threw stones at the Majeedulla Huda Juma Masjid in Katipalla’s 3rd Block. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing.
Following the incident, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held a protest in Dakshina Kannada over a social media post, which led to a minor scuffle with the police. To address the unrest, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan imposed a 48-hour ban on the sale of alcohol within the Bantwal Town Municipal Council limits. Muhilan stated, “A 48-hour ban has been imposed on the sale of all types of liquor in Bantwal Town Municipal Council, following protests by Hindu groups over an alleged viral audio clip that escalated tensions.” He added that the ban is effective immediately to maintain law and order, and liquor shops and bars in the affected area will remain closed until further notice.
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Meanwhile, Karnataka minister and Congress leader MC Sudhakar responded to the protests by VHP and Bajrang Dal, commenting, “Mangaluru has always been a hotspot for communal issues. Politics here is often driven by such matters, so it’s not surprising. On every minor issue, you’ll see someone associated with the RSS or another group stirring tensions. Miscreants exist in every religion, and they are responsible for creating these problems.”