Yellur calm, cops keep Shiv Sena activists out

Belgaum: A ban on the entry of members of various Kannada and Marathi organisations into Yellur from both Maharashtra and Karnataka for the past two weeks has helped Belgaum police restore peace in the village where violent incidents took place due to the removal of a Maharashtra State board placed at the village entrance. A hunt is on for several accused but many youth who fled Yellur fearing arrest after the incident have returned.

Hundreds of pro-Maharashtra activists from Shiv Sena and other political parties from Maharashtra are still trying to enter Belgaum district to extend their support to people of Yellur but are finding it difficult to enter Yellur, which has almost turned into a fortress after the violent incidents.

Hundreds of police personnel are deployed at the village and surrounding areas to maintain law and order. According to the police, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC will be in in force in Yellur and other Marathi-majority areas in the vicinity till August 10.

The police officials are monitoring all developments in the village and providing security to residents to take up their daily  work without any probems for the past few days.

According to official sources, the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation suffered a loss of Rs 31.72 lakh because of the violence that took place at Yellur and other incidents.