Belagavi Mayor Sanjot Bandekar has been given police protection following her participation in the Black Day protest here on Wednesday.
A police van full of reserve police personnel was stationed near the city corporation office. Policemen are also deputed in front of her official residence.
Ms. Bandekar participated in a silent rally wearing black clothes. Kannada organisations described it as a anti-Karnataka move and sought action against her.
Four persons have been picked up by the city police in connection with Wednesday’s stone-throwing incident. Four, including a police constable, were injured in the stone-throwing incident near the District Court complex.
Initial inquiry suggested that the use of music systems that belted out loud songs was the cause of quarrel, a senior police officer said. Some youth objected to the loud music and dancing in front of a prayer hall near the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
This led to a heated argument with some youth in the procession who began fighting with the other group. Some stones were thrown and a youth drew out a knife and attacked others. In the melee, a young man fell under a truck carrying loudspeakers and suffered injuries.
Rajkumar Topannanavar, BJP city unit general secretary, has blamed some Congress leaders and some Muslim organisations for the violence on Rajyotsava Day. He has sought a detailed inquiry into the issue.
