Several including mediamen injured in lathi charge

Hubli, Mar 21 (UNI) Several people including members of media received minor injuries when police resorted to lathi charge to disperse two groups engaged in stone pelting at each other in Savanur town of Haveri district about 80 km from here today.

The trouble started after the town municipality banned holding shandy at Azaar maidan of the town following Urs of a darga, but one of the traders group attempted to set up tents on the day of weekly sandy today.

Opposing the action of the group another group protested. Wordy duel turned violent with both the groups pelting stones at each other.

When situation went out of control police resorted to lathi charge. Prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr P C have been clamped in the town as precautionary measure though the situation was under control.

The injured were treated as out patients at the government hospital in the town, police added.

Senior district officials including deputy commission P S Vastrad rushed to the spot and pacified both the groups that belonged to a single community.

UNI MNP RS TS1820 -------