BAGALKOT: Tension prevailed in parts of Bagalkot town after miscreants allegedly hurled stones and footwear during a procession marking the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Killa Oni locality on February 19. The incident left a police personnel and a civilian injured and briefly triggered unrest in the area.
According to police, the stone-pelting occurred when the Shivaji Jayanti procession approached a mosque in Killa Oni. Two stones and a slipper were reportedly thrown from the side, creating panic among participants and onlookers. While officials said there was no damage to the portrait of Shivaji carried in the procession, one of the stones hit a police officer deployed for bandobast duty.
Hindu activist Prakash Arakeri sustained a head injury during the commotion and was admitted to a private hospital in Bagalkot for treatment. His condition is said to be stable.
Bagalkot Superintendent of Police Siddharth Goel said the situation is currently under control. “When the procession came near the mosque, two stones were thrown. There has been no damage to the public or to the Shivaji portrait. A stone hit a police personnel. We are verifying video footage and identifying those involved. Additional security has been deployed across the town,” he said.
The SP further clarified that, prima facie, there was no evidence to suggest a communal motive behind the act. “We are examining all angles. Strict legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he added.
Police acted swiftly to disperse the crowd and prevent escalation. Security has been intensified around sensitive areas, including the Panka Mosque and Kottaleshwara Temple, as a precautionary measure. Senior officers camped at the spot to monitor developments and ensure that peace is maintained.
Pushcarts set ablaze
In a related incident during the unrest, miscreants allegedly set fire to three vegetable pushcarts in the nearby market area. Alert police personnel and locals quickly doused the flames, preventing the fire from spreading further. However, the affected vendors suffered losses.
Jannatbi Doddamani, a vendor whose cart was burnt, expressed anguish over the damage. “Our pushcart has been burnt. There was loose cash and weighing scales inside. Everything is destroyed. How can someone do this?” she said, demanding compensation and action against those responsible.
Following the incident, groups of youth gathered on the roads demanding immediate arrests. Some protesters insisted that the Inspector General of Police visit the spot and take stock of the situation. Though police persuaded them to disperse, certain Hindu organisations warned that they would call for a Bagalkot bandh if the accused were not arrested promptly.
Imposition of Prohibitory Orders
To prevent further disturbances, the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Old Bagalkot, Navanagar and Vidyagiri areas until midnight of February 24. The order was issued by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Santosh Jagalasar.
As per the directive, more than four persons are prohibited from assembling in public places. Carrying weapons, engaging in activities that may disturb public peace, organising meetings without permission, and staging protests or demonstrations have also been banned during the period.
Authorities have appealed to residents to maintain calm and refrain from spreading rumours on social media. With additional police deployments and surveillance underway, officials expressed confidence that normalcy would be fully restored in the coming days.
