Police resort to cane charge to disburse agitated traders

Hubli, Mar 21 (UNI) Several people were injured when police resorted to lathi charge a group of people who pelted stones protesting against the local body's decision to ban weekly shandy on a particular ground in Haveri town about 80 km from here today.

Trouble started this morning when group of people started pelting stones in protest against the decision of the municipality during the bandh called by some organisations. They even attacked media persons who went to the spot.

Meanwhile, many traders, ignoring the municipality's order pitched their tents on the weekly shandy day today at Affar grounds.

The local body had banned local shandy on the grounds as the leaders of a particular community had told the administrators that they would not allow the shandy to be held on it anymore.

Police intervened and when situation went out of hand ordered lathi charge.

Deputy Commissioner P S Vastrad rushed to the spot and pacified the agitating mob.

The injured were treated as out patients in government hospital.

The situation was now under control, police said.

UNI MNP RS TS1655