Belagavi/Bengaluru: Prohibitory orders were issued in Belagavi city on Saturday where tension prevailed following the vandalisation of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue and pelting of stones on government vehicles.
The move to impose Section 144 follows the arrests of 27 people including the president of Sri Ramasena Hindustan Organisation Ramakant Konduskar and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) leader Shubham Shelke.
All those arrested were sent to 14-day judicial custody to Hindalga Jail on Saturday.
The case involves vandalizing of Sangolli Rayanna statue and smashing govt vehicles in the Belagavi district yesterday night. After the medical examination they were produced before the court at 11am. The court conducted the hearing quickly and ordered to send them to judicial custody for next 14 days. Police are likely to shift accused to Bellary jail from Belagavi's Hindalga jail.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, DCP Vikram Amate said, "Prohibitory orders have been imposed under Section 144 from 8 am on December 18 to 6 am on December 19, in view of night activities in the city and to stop different organisations from protesting. The situation is under control right now. If anyone makes a provocative speech on social media, we will take strict action against them."
Police in Belagavi had earlier arrested 27 people after they pelted stones at government vehicles and vandalised freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue. A group of people staged a protest late on Friday evening condemning the desecration of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Bengaluru, demanding action against the culprits behind the incident. Some of the miscreants in the protesting crowd smashed around 26 government and police vehicles, as informed by the Commissioner of Police Belagavi City K Thiyagarajan.
Tension prevailed in Kolhapur and Belagavi after a video from Bengaluru, purportedly showing a few miscreants pouring black ink over the face of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, went viral. The incident took place on Thursday at the Sankikere area of Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru. Bengaluru city police commissioner Kamal Pant said that a complaint against the perpetrators has been lodged at the Sadashivanagar police station.
Following this, on Friday evening, hundreds of Hindu organisation activists and Marathi-speaking people gathered at the Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Chowk in Belagavi and blocked the road. A police vehicle was reportedly vandalised at the Hutatma Chowk, while an auto driver was also beaten up at Ramdev Galli in Belagavi city amid the chaos.
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Some miscreants also pelted stones at government vehicles coming to Belagavi for the winter session duty and damaged them to some degree. They also pelted stones at a government bus and cars parked in front of the houses. A video of this vandalisation has been captured on a CCTV camera.
To control the situation, the Belagavi police resorted to lathi-charge on the perpetrators, after which the situation went out of control.
Reacting to the situation, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, "We will instil fear among the miscreants. You will see strict action by the police this time. There is no question of sparing anyone. It is the handiwork of a few miscreants. We will tame them."
The police booked cases against over 100 agitators in connection with the incident of violence in the city at three police stations. The case has also been booked for creating disharmony on the basis of language, along with other charges. The police suspect a deliberate attempt of violence by the Kannadiga and Marathi communities, and the political involvement of MES party leaders in the issue.
