Kundapur: A trivial issue snow balled into a communal clash and once again Halavalli in Kodi here grasped by tension on Sunday afternoon January 25.

As the clashes between the groups took violent turn police rushed to the spot and tried to take control of the situation. All of a sudden groups started pelting stones at the police due to which Kundapur SI Nasir Hussain sustained injuries on his leg while constable Raju received injuries on his face. Several women also injured in the incident. The injured were admitted to a private hospital in Kundapur.

 The reason:

On Sunday afternoon few youths belonging one community were sitting in a petty shop near Kinara bar in Halavalli. Some youth from another community came to the same petty shop and one among them started videographing the place with his mobile and showed his finger to the other youths. Enraged by this the youths who were already sitting in the shop abused him and clash broke between two groups.

Later the youth entered into a nearby house where marriage function was going on and threw stones at the window glasses and damaged the house.

As the news spread in the region people from both the community started throwing stones, bottles at eachother. Police rushed to the spot and tried take control of the situation. They lathi charged to control the situation but that went in vain, later they used three tear gases to disperse the groups.

Extra police force was called from Shankarnarayana and Amasebail. Two KSRP and two DAR teams were deployed in the region.

Kundapur: Police have arrested two persons in connection with the violence in Kodi on Sunday January 11. The arrested have been identified as Ranjan and Rakesh.

The other accused Zakir, Sadiq, Arshad and Abdul Rehman who were arrested in connection with the case have been produced before court after medical test.

On Sunday as the violence erupted between two communities in Kodi in which Bharat (17) and Ranjith (220 from Halavalli were brutally assaulted and were admitted to a hospital. The Hindu youths protested outside of the hospital demanding arrest of the miscreants. Mohammed Avez (17) who was taking medicine to the hospital came under the fury of the mob which assaulted him and he was too admitted to the hospital. A case was filed against the assaulters.

A search operation was conducted by police under the guidance of Udupi SP K. Annamalai under the leadership of Kundapur DySP M. Manjunath Shetty and the accused were nabbed and search is on for other accused.

Kundapur: Following a clash between two communities on Sunday evening police held a meeting with the members of both the communities on Monday evening January 12.

Speaking on the occasion a victim woman accused police of targeting one community and protecting the other. She also suspected that the police is supporting one community to indulge in these kind of anti social acts. She also said that Gandhiji dream was, everyone must walk freely on the road even on the midnight. But in the present situation of Kodi youth scared to walk on the road even soon after dusk falls. Police must take proper action against the culprits.

Some people strongly condemned the police who use abusive words while speaking to the people. Recently a peace meeting was held in the same region in which the police department assured the people of Kodi that they will curb these kinds of incidents in the future. But its only few months now and the Hindu youths are being attacked again. So what is the use of holding these kinds of peace talks, argued the locals.

 Responding to all the queries of the people circle inspector of Kundapur Diwakar PM said, “You people are living in Kodi since many generations. Yes, police department agrees that the community clashes occure more in this region than any other place. But the people who are doing this are not insiders, they are outside people. Police department will definitely thwart these kind incidents in the future. The department is planning to install CC cameras in Kodi, Halavalli, Koteshwara and in some other sensitive areas, he said.   

Taluk municipal member Manju Billava, Village municipal member Nagaraj Billava, Janaki Billava, Markod Sudheer Kumar Shetty were present.

 

Kundapur: Former MP K. Jayaprakash Hegde visited and inspected the Kodi bridge here which was unofficially opened for vehicle travelling.

Contractor Philip D’Costa, Kiran D’Costa, Buddharaj Shetty, Kalappa Poojary, Ashok Poojary Asod and local villagers were present.