Tension prevailed in Bantwal after residents of B Kasaba village staged a protest demanding drinking water supply, even as a separate fire incident damaged commercial establishments in Belthangady.
Case filed after TMC office locked
Around 50 residents of B Kasaba village gathered in front of the Bantwal Town Municipality (TMC) office at about 10.30 am on Friday and locked the main entrance, alleging that their area had not been receiving adequate drinking water supply under the municipality’s jurisdiction.
According to TMC Chief Officer Theerthaprasad KB, the protesters locked the front door of the office, preventing members of the public and government staff from entering the premises.
Following a complaint lodged by the chief officer, Bantwal Town Police registered a case under Sections 126(2), 132, 189(2), 191(2), and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further investigation is underway.
Residents claimed that repeated appeals for regular water supply had not yielded results, prompting them to resort to protest.
Shop destroyed in Belthangady fire
In a separate incident, a shop was gutted in a fire that broke out in Belthangady on Saturday morning.
Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services department said the affected first-floor shop, which sold gift items, was owned by Mohammed Shamil. The blaze was reportedly noticed when the owner opened the shop in the morning.
The fire partially damaged a neighbouring mobile shop and another adjacent outlet within the same commercial complex.
A fire tender rushed to the spot upon receiving information and brought the blaze under control. Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Police and fire officials are conducting further inquiries into the incident.