Haveri, September 19: In a group clash happened during a Ganesha idol immersion procession held at Hiruru in Hanagal taluk on Monday night, More than 22 persons including women and police were injured and admitted them to the hospital. Amidst this, Haveri rural police booked cases against many in three separate incidents.

It is said that the group clash happened on Monday night before a masjid during the Ganesha idol immersion procession at Hiruru, around 10 km from Haveri. As a result, tension prevailed in the village for some time. Miscreants pelted stones at shops and houses and damaged some vehicles and set ablaze to some. Later, they barged into some houses and attacked more than 15 persons including women and aged people with lethal weapons. They were admitted to the hospital. In the incident, 9 police personnel were also injured.

Speaking to Varthabharati, Hanagal Anjuman Islam president Nazeer Savner said that “Hindus and Muslims here were living harmoniously. But in recent days, communal clashes are being held. But the police who have to control it have become partial. Around four-five months, the jatra mahotsav was held peacefully. Then the police installed CCTV cameras to keep a vigil on the activities and security was beefed up. So, miscreants have not come to the scene. But on Monday, it was different issue. The police should have beefed up the security during Ganesh festival procession. But they did not do that. For the act engineered by some miscreants, the entire village is suffering. Masjid and houses were stoned. Pregnant women, aged, physically disabled and children were attacked, looted gold ornaments and other valuables. They have damaged many things, Vehicles belonging to Tippu Sultan Committee president Zakir, masjid president vehicle. It was a police-sponsored act. It requires a suitable investigation and culprits should be punished and affected people should be compensated”, he said.

Men are leaving village

The group clash has literally turned into a communal clash. So, majority of the minority community people have been living under insecurity. Because of the fear of arrest, men have been leaving the village. According to a woman from the Hiruru village, the police have been arresting the youths by barging into the houses. Noticing this, men, school and college going youth have left the village since Monday night. Nobody knows their whereabouts. While going out, many of them left their mobile phones at home and they are not reachable, she said.

Don’t lend ears to rumours, situation is under control: SP K. Parashuram

SP K. Parashuram said that locals have informed that when the immersion procession was being taken out in front of the masjid on Monday night, some miscreants pelted stones at the procession due to which the Ganesha idol was damaged. Later, tension prevailed in the village as both the parties engaged in clash. Immediately, additional police force was deployed to the village and took the situation under control. Now, the situation is under control. No one need to worry about the situation. People need not to give importance to any rumours. In the incident, around 15 civilians and 9 police personnel were injured. Cases were filed against many in three separate incidents and 22 persons were arrested and action was taken to arrest remaining accused, he said.

This time, 1,701 Ganesha idols were immersed in the district for which security was beefed up in all the places. There was 4,000 population in Hiruru. Based on the population, police security was made. In spite of it, untoward incident happened. Now, people have been pointing towards the police department. The department has never done partiality, he said.


 

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Katwa (WB) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday promised to accelerate the provision of citizenship under CAA for Matua, Namasudra and other refugee communities if the BJP came to power in West Bengal, while warning "infiltrators" to "pack up their bags".

Addressing a rally at Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district, Modi sought to reassure the Matua and Namasudra communities -- a politically influential refugee bloc concentrated in south Bengal -- that their future was protected not by the ruling Trinamool Congress but by the Constitution and the CAA.

The prime minister said a BJP government in Bengal would not only follow the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,' but would also add 'Sabka Hisaab,' which means every "looter and oppressor" will be held fully accountable.

"I have come to give a guarantee to the Matua, Namasudra and all refugee families of Bengal. You are not here by the grace of any TMC leader. You are here under the protection of the Constitution," Modi said.

"Modi enacted the CAA law so that Matua, Namasudra and all refugee families receive the guarantee of the Constitution (citizenship). As soon as a BJP government is formed here, the work of granting citizenship to refugee families under CAA will be expedited," he said.

The pitch comes a day after the Bengal BJP, in its manifesto, promised "citizenship and rehabilitation for all Hindu refugees" -- a message aimed squarely at Matua and Namasudra voters, many of whom have complained of large-scale deletions from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

But the prime minister paired the citizenship promise with an even sharper attack on alleged illegal immigration.

"The BJP government will free Bengal from yet another major challenge. Whoever has infiltrated India will be driven out," Modi said.

"I will tell every infiltrator to pack up their belongings. It is time to leave," he said, triggering loud cheers from the crowd.

He warned that not only infiltrators, but also those who had "facilitated" them would face action.

In a state where refugee identity and citizenship have remained politically combustible for decades, Modi attempted to turn the issue into a referendum on trust, accusing the TMC of spreading fear among refugee families while failing to protect their interests.

Congratulating the Bengal BJP for its manifesto released a day earlier, Modi said it contained the roadmap to implement the party's six guarantees.

"The BJP has resolved to take Bengal to new heights of development. Modi's guarantee is to transform the fear of TMC's ruthless government into trust, and the entire blueprint for that change is in the BJP manifesto," he said.

Seeking to project confidence, Modi claimed the huge turnout at the rally showed that Bengal was ready for political change.

"This scene is the trailer for the results of May 4. I am witnessing your fervour, your enthusiasm, your energy and your resolve. This is the proclamation of trust triumphing over fear. Bengal is ready for change," the PM added.

Modi also cited the BJP's performance among women voters elsewhere to argue that the party was steadily moving towards victory in Bengal.

"Wherever there is heavy voting and strong participation by women, BJP-NDA has received a massive mandate. In Bengal too, BJP is steadily moving towards victory," he said.

"The 15-year rule of TMC has given nothing but fear to every citizen, every family of Bengal. This election is to eradicate the TMC's fear," he said.

Seeking to match and outbid the TMC's welfare plank, Modi repeatedly referred to what he called the BJP's "three guarantees" for women, youth and government employees.

For women, the BJP has promised a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000.

"Bengal's sisters and daughters will be able to come and go anytime, anywhere. BJP government means complete assurance of women's safety," Modi said.

For unemployed youth, Modi promised age relaxation in government recruitment for those who had crossed the age limit because of what he described as the TMC's "misgovernance".

He also promised implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees.

The PM sought to sharpen the corruption issue as well, promising a "white paper" on what he called corruption involving TMC ministers, MLAs and syndicates.

"The BJP government will bring a white paper and give a legal account of the corruption of TMC's MLAs, ministers and syndicates," he said.

"BJP will not stop any scheme. BJP will only shut down the shop of corruption and stop TMC's loot," Modi said, accusing the ruling party of falsely claiming that welfare schemes would be discontinued if the BJP came to power.

Modi also used the rally to attack the TMC over the crisis facing potato farmers.

"TMC's deceit has ruined potato farmers. They promised to buy potatoes at MSP, but farmers' crop are rotting," he said.

Modi said Bengal's farmers would receive Rs 9,000 annually under the PM-Kisan scheme -- Rs 6,000 from the Centre and an additional Rs 3,000 from a BJP government in Bengal.

The welfare-heavy pitch was capped with a promise to roll out Ayushman Bharat in Bengal immediately after the BJP forms the government.

"On the day a BJP chief minister takes oath, the very first cabinet meeting will implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana. This is Modi's guarantee," he said.