The Hindu : Karnataka News : Check-post issue triggers violence

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Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Check-post issue triggers violence

Correspondent

Clashes followed attack on two in Ankola

Some people were allegedly collecting money from lorries at check-post they had ‘taken over’
Ajit Ganapati Naik and Sandeep Naik say that gold chain and cash were taken away

Karwar: Group clashes between people of two castes created tension in Ankola town on Sunday. A group of seven persons allegedly attacked Ajit Ganapati Naik and Sandeep Naik of Bhavikeri in front of a cold drink shop at Ankola.

The victims have said in the police complaint that Sanjay Mohan Naik, Prakash Shantaram Naik, Umesh Govind Naik, Harish Ramachandra Naik, Ravikumar Pandurang Naik, Rajesh Ganapati Naik and one other person attacked them. The gold chain and money was taken away from Ajit Ganapati Naik. The complaint also said that the attackers told the victims that they were responsible for the closure of a check-post nearby.

Some time back the Mines and Geology Department ordered the closure of a check-post which the department had set up. But, it was allegedly “taken over” by a group of people who are said to have the support of politicians of Karwar and Ankola. Then, they started collecting ‘haftha’ from iron ore lorries plying on the national highway. Even after the order for closure of the check-post, the group continued to collect money angering the people concerned. When the pressure of people mounted on the district administration for closing the “taken over” check-post, the administration ordered for its closure but to no effect.

Finally, on June 21, members of a lorry association removed the check-post forcibly. Thereafter though there were some efforts to shift this check-post to some other point, the district administration did not allow it.

It is said that Sandeep Naik was present at the check-post when it was removed from there. This enraged the other group and they attacked Sandeep Naik with an iron rod and the wooden stick and tried to stab him on Sunday. The attackers and the attacked, it is said, belong to two different castes which sparked tension in the town after the attack.

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