Four injured in police lathicharge in Karnataka

Four persons were today injured when police used canes to disperse a mob demanding the arrest of those behind the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl student at Harihara, about 15 kms from here.

The trouble began when the unruly crowd blocked the highway and started pelting stones. Two State Transport Corporation buses and several commercial establishments were damaged, police said, adding shops in the area downed shutters following the incident.

However, police said the situation was tense but under control. Additional police forces from Davangare had been deployed in the area and the injured were admitted to hospital, they said. on Thursday evening, a Class 4 student of a local school went to her grandmother's house in Karlahalli village after school hours but failed to return home.

Next morning, her body was recovered from the village and police arrested one Imran, who they suspect to have raped and killed her. Meanwhile, local legislator B P Harish appealed to the people to cooperate with police and "not to believe rumours".