Communal tensions gripped Nagamangala town in Karnataka’s Mandya district after clashes broke out between two groups during a Ganpati procession.
The incident reportedly took place when devotees from Badarikoppalu were carrying Ganesh idols for immersion. As the procession was passing through the main road, stones were allegedly thrown at it.
Police imposed restrictive orders in the area as shops, businesses and several vehicles were set afire by a group. Subsequently, the police declared a high alert in the area, and Section 163 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (an order issued in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) was imposed to bring the situation under control.
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Videos shared on social media also showed two groups throwing stones at each other.
Union minister HD Kumaraswamy condemned the violence in Nagamangala town and blamed the ruling Congress government for it. He alleged this incident happened due to the “appeasement of one community” by the Congress.
“I strongly condemn the incident that took place during the Ganesha immersion procession in Nagamangala, Mandya district. It is a failure of peace and order in the town that the miscreants of a community deliberately indulged in violence by targeting the devotees, who were walking peacefully in the procession of God Ganapati, throwing stones and slippers at the public and policemen, exploding petrol bombs and brandishing swords, ” the minister, who is also Mandy Lok Sabha member, wrote on X.
The incident in Karnataka comes days after six minors were arrested in Gujarat’s Surat after they allegedly pelted stones at a Ganesh pandal, resulting in clashes.
(With inputs from PTI)