Karnataka: Stones Pelted, Swords Brandished During Eid-e-Milad Procession In Shivamogga; Section 144 Imposed — More Details

Tensions erupted in Karnataka's Shivamogga on Sunday (October 01), following a processions taken out by members of the minority community.

Stones were allegedly thrown at the procession which resulted in four individuals receiving injuries. The police consequently imposed Section 144 in the city's Ragigudda area.

Speaking on the incident, Shivamogga Superintendent of Police (SP) Mithun Kumar said, "There was a stone-pelting incident in Ragigudda last evening. However, we managed to disperse the crowd, and the situation is under control now."

The trouble began earlier in the day when a portrait of Tipu Sultan was erected at Raggigudda-Shantinagar, located on the outskirts of the city. Some groups raised objections to the image, which reportedly showed Tipu killing warriors dressed in saffron.

A few pictures doing the rounds on social media also showed Aurangzeb being glorified for building a Muslim empire in India. Twitter users from the state shared images of a cut-out of a sword being brandished in the procession.

Such a display becomes loaded with meaning as Tipu Sultan is recorded to have killed and converted thousands of Hindus through the force of the sword.

As tensions over the Tipu image escalated, Shivamogga SP GK Mithun Kumar intervened by reaching out to community leaders and urging them to persuade the youth to maintain peace during the Eid-e-Milad processions.

The senior police official advised the organisers of the celebration to cover the statue with cloth, and police patrols were initiated in the area.

However, a few hours later, a Muslim youth reportedly used his own blood to write the words 'Sher Tipu' on the portrait, as reported by The Times Of India.

Around 8 PM, when the procession arrived in Ragigudda, stone-pelting was reported from the site.

A police lathi-charge was used to disperse the crowds, and the injured individuals were promptly admitted to McGann Hospital.

The situation is being monitored by authorities to maintain peace and order in Shivamogga.