Karnataka: Communal Violence over Taslima Nasreen article

The Hindustan Times
March 01, 2010

Two killed in Shimoga over Taslima Nasreen article, curfew clamped

by Salil Mekaad, Hindustan Times

Two persons were killed and over two dozen injured after violence broke out in three districts of Karnataka during rallies taken out to protest an article containing remarks against certain Islamic practices published in a vernacular daily on Monday.

The protests snowballed into communal clashes with people hurling stones at each other and setting afire nearly a dozen shops and over 50 vehicles in Shimoga and Hassan in central Karnataka and Belgaum district in North-Western part of the state.

Curfew was imposed in Shimoga district, around 280 km from here. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were clamped in Hassan and Belgaum district.

Prohibitory orders were also put in place in Bangalore as a precautionary measure till 10 pm on Friday.
Shimoga Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey told Hindustan Times that situation worsened when a mob, protesting the translation of Taslima Nasreen's views on Burkha system published in a vernacular daily, gathered at Waqf Board office and started pelting stones.

They also clashed with members of other community, most of whom were planning to celebrate the festival of Holi.
Police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the angry mob, which set afire 27 vehicles, including jeeps, auto-rickshaws, trucks, buses and motorcycles.

Two persons were killed in violence. Nearly a dozen sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital, Pandey said.
Violence sparked off in similar fashion in Hassan district, around 300 km from here, when protesters pelted stones and set afire several shops and vehicles.

Members of two communities clashed with sticks and sharp-edged weapons, Hassan Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh said.
Five persons were injured in stone pelting and one sustained stab injuries.

Group clashes were reported from Gokak town of Belgaum district, around 570 km from here, after a protest rally turned violent, Belgaum Deputy Commissioner Dr J ravishankar said.

Around seven vehicles including buses and motorcycles were set afire by the violent mob, he said.

Nearly half-a-dozen persons sustained injuries in the clashes, before prohibitory orders were clamped in the town, Dr. Ravishankar said.

Police were mobilized to the affected districts from neighbouring places and personnel posted in strength to avert any further flare-up, official sources said.

Situation was under control in all the three districts, they added.

Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar M Bidari said though no incident of violence was reported from the state capital, provisions under Section 144 were invoked to as a precautionary measure.