The atmosphere on BC road in Dakshina Kannada district became tense following provocative statements from Muslim leaders and escalating confrontations between Hindu and Muslim groups. The situation, however, was swiftly brought under control by the Dakshina Kannada police, who made several arrests to defuse tensions.
The trigger for the unrest was the Eid Milad procession on September 16, which saw a large gathering of Muslim youth on BC Road. During the Eid Milad celebration, a provocative audio message circulated on social media, allegedly from former Bantwal Municipality president Muhammad Sharif and his brother Hasinar. The message, which challenged Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sharan Pumpwell to stop the Eid Milad procession, went viral, prompting a strong response from Hindu organizations, including Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal leader Puneet Attava responded by issuing a counter-challenge through social media, calling on Hindus to gather at BC Road.
The police quickly registered cases against both Muslim and Hindu leaders for making incendiary statements. Bajrang Dal leader Puneet Attava and VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell were named in complaints for their social media posts. In contrast, Muslim leaders involved in spreading the audio message were taken into custody.
As tensions mounted, members of Hindu organizations gathered near the Rakteshwari temple on BC Road, where Sharan Pumpwell and Puneet Attava later joined them. Pumpwell spoke to the media, condemning the situation, stating that the challenge was not directed at him personally but at the entire Hindu community. He criticized the police for stopping the Hindu organizations’ planned procession while allowing the Muslim Eid Milad bike rally to proceed. He also referenced the burning of Hindu shops in Nagamangala as an example of ongoing communal tensions.
The situation escalated further when Muslim youths participating in the Eid Milad rally taunted the gathered Hindu activists by revving their motorcycles and honking loudly as they passed by. Enraged by the provocation, Hindu activists began chanting and raising the Bhagwa Dwaja (saffron flag), increasing tensions between the groups. However large presence of police force averted clashes.
Dakshina Kannada District SP N. Yatish assured the public that the situation was under control, and additional security forces, including units from the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and the Army Reserve Force, had been deployed. He emphasized that the route for the Eid Milad procession had not been altered and that Hindu organizations were permitted to hold a peaceful sit-in protest. However, the sudden allowance of a Muslim bike rally without prior notice aggravated the situation, prompting Hindu activists to question the fairness of the police actions.
The police acted swiftly, arresting two individuals who had issued the challenge to Sharan Pumpwell, and a case was filed against leaders from both Hindu and Muslim groups.
The events on BC Road reflect growing communal sensitivities in Dakshina Kannada and other parts of Karnataka. In Koppal district’s Gangavati area, a similar controversy erupted when a banner with “Free Palestine” written on it was displayed during *Eid Milad* celebrations. Hindu organizations objected, and Muslims swiftly replaced the banner after covering the contentious text.
Opposition to the presence of Palestine flags at religious events in Karnataka has been increasing, with Hindu organizations expressing fears of a larger plot to instigate communal violence. Such concerns are amplified by recent events, including riots in Nagamangala, where it was alleged that slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” were shouted, further fueling suspicions of external influences. Leader of the opposition party R Ashok urged the state government to hand over the Nagamangala riot case to NIA as pro-pak slogans were raised.
Even before the Nagamangala incident in the Mandya district, another incident occurred in the state. A group of youths carried the Palestinian flag and rode bikes through the main roads of Chikkamagaluru city on September 15. A video of the ride has gone viral on social media. Currently, the Chikkamagaluru city police have taken four minor boys into custody in connection with this incident, and they are being interrogated.
How did the boys obtain the Palestinian flag? Were they instructed to march across the city with it? Was the Palestinian flag planned to be displayed at the Eid Milad parade today? The police are investigating the matter. A team led by Inspector Gaviraj has been formed to investigate the issue. The police department is taking the matter seriously, and a case has been registered at the Chikkamagaluru city police station in connection with the incident.
Hindu organizations have expressed outrage, suggesting there is a plot to incite riots in the communally sensitive Chikkamagaluru city.
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