The violence in reaction to the write-up erupted early on Monday when a huge Muslim mob staged a protest march through the town, stoned shops and set vehicles on fire.
Communal violence claimed two lives in chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s political backyard, Shimoga, on Monday, even as district authorities ordered a shoot-at-sight.
A translated version of exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin’s article ignited the violence which spread to Hassan, but no deaths were reported from there. The article in a Kannada daily mentioned that Prophet Mohammed was against women wearing the burqa.
Police were forced to open fire in Shimoga when lathi-charge and tear gas failed to quell group clashes. The violence in reaction to the write-up erupted early on Monday when a huge Muslim mob staged a protest march through the town, stoned shops and set vehicles on fire.
“At least three shops in a building and several vehicles, including 15 two-wheelers and five four-wheelers were burnt. Police had to resort to firing to quell the riotous mob,” inspector general of police (eastern range) HNS Rao said. He is supervising the law and order situation in the town.
Amar Kumar Pandey, deputy commissioner of Shimoga, issued shoot-at-sight orders in the town following the violence. Police have beefed up security in Bangalore too and protection has been extended to the Kannada newspaper’s offices in the city.
Appealing for communal harmony, chief minister Yeddyurappa ordered stringent action against those fomenting hatred.
Curfew has been imposed in Shimoga and Hassan. Prohibitory orders under section 144 have been enforced in Bangalore and a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Shimoga on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, police in Bangalore registered a suo motu case against the Kannada daily and an Urdu daily under IPC 295-A, which pertains to “deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise”.
The section specifies punishment through imprisonment extending up to three years, or fine, or both.
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