Belagavi: Indiscriminate stone-throwing between two groups belonging to different communities has been reported in some of the densely-populated localities of Belagavi late on Wednesday night which left property and vehicles damaged. The untoward incident which occured when the winter session of the state legislature is going on at Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi has shocked people in the city.
According to sources, several vehicles including a police jeep were stoned by miscreants during stone-throwing that took place in Chavat Galli, Khanjar Galli, Chandu Galli and other surrounding areas at 10 pm. Even as the stone-throwing took place for more than an hour, the police reached the spot only after an hour.
A police jeep was also targeted when a team of police personnel who rushed to the trouble-torn area tried to bring the situation under control.
To stop the groups that indulged in stone-throwing, the police had to burst tear gas shells.
Although the police sources did not know the reasons that led to stone-pelting, it came to light that the two groups from different communities often indulged in violent incidents to disturb peace in the city. At least 20 houses and several vehicles were damaged in the incident as the police brought the situation under control.
Police commissioner T.G. Krishna Bhat received head injuries in the clash. Several top police officers too sustained injuries.
A large number of VIPs and officers attending the legislature session in Belagavi were in a dilemma unable to enter areas where their lodges and hotels were located late on Wednesday as the news of stone-throwing spread across the city. Several hotels where many VIPs and journalists are staying are located close to areas where violent incidents took place tonight. The Belagavi police have failed to stop incidents of stone-throwing which are a regular affair at Khanjar Galli and its adjacent areas. Two groups from two different communities resort to stone-throwing over petty incidents time and again here which often spreads to other areas in the vicinity. According to sources, a heavy deployment of police has been made in all trouble-torn areas to maintain law and order.
