Udupi : Congress-BJP workers clash ; lathi charged

Udupi : Congress-BJP workers clash ; lathi charged

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Sept 10, 2018 : A fracas took place between BJP and Congress workers near the Udupi SP office at Bannanje on September 10,  Monday following which the police led by SP Lakshman Nimbargi had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

It is said  the clash broke out when BJP workers opposed  the action of some Congress workers who were reportedly  pressurising shopkeepers to down their shutters at Bannanje. Initially, there was slogan shouting from both sides  which eventually turned into a clash. In the meantime, someone stoned Udupi Councillor and town BJP Chief Prabhaker Poojary  further aggravating the situation.

SP Nimbargi himself wielded lathi to bring the situation under control. Congress leader and Councillor  Ramesh Kanchan sustained injuries in hands during the  lathi charge.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Prabhaker Poojary who is hospitalised after being injured in stoning  was visited by MLA Raghupathi Bhat and Udupi District BJP Chief Mattar Ratnaker Hegde.

Prohibitory orders clamped in Udupi

They also refused to leave the spot near the District Police Office here. With the result, Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi ordered lathi-charge.

Ramesh Kanchan, Congress councillor in the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), was injured during the lathi-charge and was admitted to the District Government Hospital here.

A total of 11 persons were injured in the clashes and during lathi-charge and were admitted to the District Hospital. One received outpatient treatment.

Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi told The Hindu that the police would arrest six workers of the BJP and four workers of Congress, who were receiving treatment at the District Hospital after they were discharged, on the charge of unlawful assembly and obstructing government servants from performing their duty.

A police guard had been deployed at the hospital. The police would also study video recordings of the clashes and take action against some more persons, if necessary, he said.

While most business establishments and shops were closed, some were open in the morning. The Congress workers went round the city urging shopkeepers to close their shops. They also vandalised a greengrocer’s shop on Car Street, which was open. They asked some flower vendors near the Service Bus Stand to close down. The Congress workers asked some shopkeepers, who were doing business, to close down at Kadiyali. However, some persons shouted slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there was an altercation between the Congress and the BJP workers.