Violence broke out in Nagamangala town, Mandya district, Karnataka, on Wednesday night following an altercation during a Ganpati idol immersion procession. Stones thrown at the procession, which led to clashes between two groups. The unrest led to several shops and vehicles being set ablaze.
Sources indicate that the procession was proceeding peacefully until it neared a local dargah, where some individuals began throwing stones. This provoked further conflict between the groups involved. In response to the violence, police have imposed restrictive measures in the area and are maintaining a high level of alert.
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In the aftermath, members of the Hindu community staged a protest at the local police station, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the stone-throwing.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy further condemned the incident, calling for peace and criticizing the Congress-led state government. Kumaraswamy accused the government of failing to manage law and order, attributing the violence to what he described as the party’s “appeasement of a particular community for political gain.”
JD-S leader Kumaraswamy urged the state government to act swiftly to restore calm in Nagamangala.
However, Karnataka SDPI chief Abdul Majeed has called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to direct the Director General of Police (DGP) to deploy additional police forces to the area. Majeed emphasized the need for strict action against those seeking to disrupt communal harmony and damage the state’s reputation, posting his concerns on social media and tagging the Chief Minister.