Tension in Khanapur town as MES holds convention

Belgaum, Karnataka, Oct 26 (UNI) Police burst four rounds of teargas shells to disperse a violent mob which pelted stones at passing vehicles and the police, injuring eight policemen including a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a Circle Inspector, in Khanapur town in this district today.

The trouble started at the conclusion of a convention organised by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi, spearheading the agitation demanding merger of Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka, including Belgaum city, with Maharashtra. Delivering a ''provocative'' speech at the convention, Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Ramdas Kadam renewed the demand and said Marathis vehemently opposed the Mahajan Commission report, which favoured Karnataka.

Enraged by the speech, some miscreants started throwing stones and removing banners and boards, besides ransacking shops. In the melee, three police vehicles were damaged.

Police ordered a lathicharge to control the situation. But, as it failed to yield any result, they burst teargas shells to disperse the crowd and took eight people into custody.

Superintendent of Police Hemanth Kumar and other senior officials rushed to the spot with additional forces. The situation was tense, but under control, police said.

The border dispute had been creating tension in this volatile district for nearly four decades.

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