K'taka: Desecration of fence near Ambedkar statue

Bidar (Karnataka), Dec 6: Police fired in the air, after lathicharge proved ineffective to quell a violent mob indulged stone peltingand vandalism following an alleged incident of desecration of the fencearound a Abmedkar statue in at Mannekeri village in Humnabad taluk ofthis district today.

Official sources said that some miscreants had hanged chappals tothe fence erected around the statue, which was yet to be unveiled.

Learning about the incident a 3000-strong mob went on rampage onNational Highway Nine near the village. They set on fire to a bus anddamaged eight others, including one each from Maharashtra and AndhraPradesh. A few other vehicles were also damaged in the stone pelting atthe passing vehicles.

As several rounds of lathicharge proved futile forcing the policeopen fire in the air to quell the stone throwing mob. About 14 persons,including a press reporter who was at the spot were injured in thepolice lathi charge.

Tension prevailed in different parts of the district as peopleprotested against the incidents in different villages and towns. Abandh was being observed in the Bidar and Bhalki towns.

As the news spread like wild fire, hundreds of dalit youths intook to streets in this town and forced shop keepers down theirshutters. They also threw stones in which some vehicles were damaged.

Police said large number of police force had been deployed toMannekeri to bring the situation under control. The situation in bothMannekeri and Bidar said to be tense but under control, according topolice officials said.

UNI