Heavy police deployment continued in Maddur town on Tuesday, even as the situation remained peaceful in the wake of a bandh call given by the BJP following communal clashes during a Ganesha immersion procession on Sunday.
BJP Mandya district president Indresh N S has given the call and the saffron party’s ally JD(S) also supports this bandh call.
Around 800 personnel, including four Superintendents of Police, Additional SPs, and Karnataka State Reserve Police forces, have been deployed as a precautionary measure, Mandya Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi told PTI.
“The situation is under control and peaceful. Prohibitory orders are in place till tomorrow morning. Adequate forces have been deployed, and liquor sales have been prohibited,” he said.
Police said two FIRs have been registered in connection with clashes that broke out on Sunday when stones were thrown at the Ganesha procession in Ram Rahim Nagar.
While police booked a case on their own, they registered another based on a complaint lodged by an injured person. So far, 22 people have been arrested in connection with the Sunday incident.
According to police, the stone-pelting, which began about 500 metres from a mosque, led to retaliation from members of the procession.
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Police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse two clashing groups. Hindu activists later staged protests, raising Jai Sri Ram’ slogans, burning tyres, and waving saffron flags.