2 group clash at temple function

Bellary, Apr 7: Tension prevailed following a clash between two groups of people during the annual Jathra of Lord Lakshminarayana and Lord Anjaneya at Mariyammanahalli village, about 20 km from Hospet, in this district of Karnataka.

Police said the trouble started last evening when the idols of the two presiding deities were brought in a procession in a chariot.

As per tradition, the devotees use to throw bananas at the chariot as a gesture of offering prasadam to the gods. However, a group of people started throwing the bananas at women following which the other group entered into a verbal duel with them. They also started throwing stones at each other, forcing the police to intervene and bring the situation under control.

However, both the groups started clashing again this afternoon and started pelting stones at each other, forcing the police to resort to lathicharge. As all efforts to bring the warring groups under control failed, the police resorted to bursting of several rounds of tear gas shells to quell the mob.

KSRP and DAR forces were deployed in the village to meet any eventuality. Top police officials, including Superintendent of Police Pankajkumar Thakur, were camping in the village to monitor the situation. The situation was under control now. The number of injured was not yet known.

UNI