Police fire in air to disburse warring villagers

Bangalore, Oct 21 (UNI) Police fired in the air when lobbing of tear gas shells and lathi charge proved futile to disperse agitating villagers who turned violent, over release of water from a tank in Kottagere village in Kunigal Taluk of Tumkur district, about 60 km from here today.

Tumkur Superintendent of Police Harisekharan said the trouble stated when the villagers protested against the release of water from Kottagere tank to nearby Mangala Reservoir in the neighbouring village. The protesters indulged in stone pelting resulting in over a dozen people, including six policemen including a police sub-inspector, injured.

Meanwhile a small breach was made on the bund of the tank, that was filled to the brim, in the presence of officials. This was decided in a meeting held last week to release 450 cusecs of water to the Reservoir. This enraged the Kottagere villagers who indulged in violence.

Police fired in the air and later beat up the agitated villagers to bring the situation under control. Tension prevailed both in the Kunigal town and Kottagere village but the situation had been brought under control, the SP added.

"There is an involvement of outsiders in this incident. We will nab those and bring them to book," he added.

The BJP leaders who led the group from Kottagere, has called for a bandh in Kunigal village tomorrow in protest against what they called police highandedness.

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