Police struggle to maintain peace in Belgaum
Kannada activists, Shiv Sena leaders keep Belgaum on the edge
By : naushad bijapur
Update: 2014-08-02 06:48 GMT
Belgaum: While the police is trying hard to restore order after the recent violence over the removal of a ‘Maharashtra State’ board outside Yellur, a team of Shiv Sena leaders from the neighbouring state descended on the town on Friday soon after Kannada leader, Vatal Nagraj, arrived in Belgaum to launch his ‘Yellur Chalo’ agitation.
Taking no chances, the police immediately rounded up the Sena activists and sent them back home. Five leaders of Maharashtra were also arrested for entering Belgaum in violation of the prohibitory orders. Meanwhile, a police team met Mr Vatal Nagraj at the Belgaum airport and sent him to Hubli even as a group of Kannada workers who were there to escort him to Belgaum city, raised slogans in protest against Marathi leaders.
But the police’s job was far from done as a team of Marathi leaders from Kolhapur and Satara, including several MLAs, arrived in Belgaum to show their support for the people of Yellur. They too were sent back in the interest of peace, said Inspector General of Police, Bhaskar Rao.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said legal action could be taken against several newspapers and news channels for provoking people with false information. “The burning of the Kannada flag and mock funeral procession which Kannada news channels claimed had taken place in Belgaum, actually took place in the town of Shinoli in Maharashtra,” he said. According to Belgaum SP, Chandragupta, the situation in Yellur is peaceful.