Sira town in Tumkur district, which witnessed a clash between two communities on Sunday, is returning to normality.
Tension prevailed in the town on Sunday night following a quarrel between youths of two communities. On Monday night, a makeshift tender coconut shop made of palm fronds was set on fire.
Additional Superintendent of Police R. Lakshman told The Hindu that 20 people arrested in connection with the clash had been remanded in judicial custody till October 12. He said eight persons were arrested on Tuesday as a preventive measure.
The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr.PC in the town till Thursday. Inspector-General of Police (central range) P. Ravindranath and Superintendent of Police Raman Gupta are camping in the town. Four battalions of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, four battalions of the District Armed Reserve police, 150 police constables and 15 inspectors have been deployed in the town.
The former Minister S. Shivanna alleged on Tuesday that the Congress was responsible for the communal clash. The violence shows the failure of local MLA T.B. Jayachandra, Minister for Law and Tumkur district in charge, he said. He told reporters here that the Congress had been following the “divide and rule” policy for the sake of vote bank.
