Tipu Jayanti: Trouble brews in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: With another five months to go for the controversial Tipu Jayanti celebrations, the intelligence department has noticed tension brewing in Madikeri, where two people were killed in the violence during the celebration last year.

It is reliably learnt that right wing organisations are more aggressive this time and planning to ensure that Tipu Jayanti is not held this time. Sources in
the Intelligence wing revealed that some of the organisations have already held a few rounds of meeting in Madikeri in this regard.

“Just two weeks ago, Bhagamandala Bandh was observed by some organisations and it was related to Tipu Jayanti. There are two groups in the district and one is opposing Tipu Jayanti, while the other believes that Tipu did not carry out any massacre of Kodavas. This itself would lead to a clash in the coming days,” an official said.

Meanwhile, information gathered by the intelligence wing also suggests that Tipu Jayanti would not be a smooth affair this time. “It has come to our notice that the right wing organisations have already held meetings in Madikeri. Going by the veracity of the case and the intelligence gathered so far, we suspect that the protests would be more aggressive and also take more violent turn this time, compared to last year,” he added.

Further, it is said that the violence would not be restricted to Kodagu district alone this time. “All communally sensitive districts such as Mangaluru, Udupi and Shivamogga would be affected during this year’s celebrations. The police heads of the districts concerned have also been updated about the development and are advised to take appropriate precautionary steps,” the official said.

It may be recalled that VHP organising secretary D.S. Kutappa, 67, and Shahul Hamid K.N., 27, were killed when the celebration of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary took violent turn in Madikeri on November 10 last year.