Violence in Kalladka after trivial clash takes communal overtones; 6 injured

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Feb 2, 2016 : Six persons were injured, one of them seriously and several vehicles damaged in stone pelting incidents at Kalladka following clashes that  broke out on February 1, Monday evening. It is learnt, a quarrel between some people travelling in an autorickshaw and a pick-up truck driver, had snowballed into a controversy resulting in clashes.

Though the situation is said to be under control, a tense situation still prevails in the town, which witnessed a complete  shutdown following the clashes. It is said a pick-up truck which was caught in the traffic snarl on the NH 75 due to re-asphalting works took a reverse hitting an autorickshaw from behind.

Nearly four persons who were in the autorickshaw, namely Ravi Bhandary, Mohan and Kiran who were angered began to abuse and assault the driver of the pick-up truck. Just then  a car of Puttur hotelier Sunil Shetty passing that way hit the door of the truck. The car driver Prakash reprimanded the quarrelling  persons resulting in the latter attacking the former.  Sunil Shetty’s son SIddhant who tried to pacify the quarrelling people too was assaulted and  in the melee his chain was also robbed, say sources.

Soon after, an Alto car heading towards Mangaluru from Puttur was stoned and  Umesh and Ganesh of Sampya who were in the car sustained injuries. Rakesh, the car driver has lodged a complaint.

Within minutes a large crowd gathered and the incident took communal overtones resulting  in stone pelting, throwing of soda bottles etc. A bus passenger Krishna Bhat (65) sustained injuries on his face and he was rushed to the hospital by the bus crew and passengers.

The entire town came to a standstill following the incident , and senior police officers rushed to Kalladka with additional forces.

Bantwal ASP Bhasker Rai, Circle Inspector Belliappa, Rural Police Inspector Rakshith Gowda and others  are monitoring the situation.