Mangaluru: The state government’s decision to hold Tipu’s birth anniversary celebrations across the state has sparked several protests by the BJP and right wing groups. The protests turned violent in Madikeri on the day of the celebration and now the unrest has been extended to Dakshina Kannada district as well. Agitating over the death of a VHP leader in Madikeri on November 10 and the murder of a youth at BC Road on November 12, the district unit of Bajrang Dal and VHP have called for dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday Novemver 13.
Despite opposition, the district administration held Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations in Mangaluru, Sullia and Puttur recently. Large number of Bajrang Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party activists had assembled at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium in Mangaluru where the function was organised. District In-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai participated in the programme. Posse of police were present to prevent any untoward incident.
Activists raised slogans and displayed black flags. The police took the protesters under preventive custody and released them later. Then the official function went on in the zilla panchayat auditorium.
Similar protests were held before Puttur and Sullia Taluk offices where the Tippu Jayanti function had been organised. Here too, police took protesters under preventive custody and released.
Several buses and other vehicles were set on fire by the miscreants on Thursday night. To prevent further clashes, the DGP has imposed section 144 in Dakshina Kannada till November 15 and holiday has been declared for schools and colleges.
Earlier: To condemn the recent turn out of events in Kodagu and other areas in the last few days, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists held a meeting here in front of the Bantwal taluk office on Thursday evening. It is said that a few miscreants pelted stones during the meeting. This led to the unrest.
To bring the situation under control, police resorted to lathi charge.
