A motorcycle was set on fire and destroyed completely in the sporadic violence following the desecration of the portrait of Lord Rama by unknown miscreants at the industrial township of Shahabad in Chitapur taluk, Kalaburagi district, on Wednesday even as Muslims observed Mohurrum in a subdued manner.
Tension prevailed in the township early on Wednesday morning after news about the desecration of the portrait of Lord Rama put up on the occasion of Vijayadashami celebrations at Trishul Chowk near Veterinary Hospital in the town spread. Members of right-wing organisations converged in large numbers at Shastri Chowk and staged a protest by burning tyres on the road, demanding immediate arrest of miscreants involved.
The protesters also set on fire a motorcycle at Shastri Chowk. They raised slogans against the police for not arresting the miscreants responsible, who had injured their religious sentiments. They also accused the police of acting in a partisan manner.
The protests, which began in the early hours on Wednesday, continued till mid afternoon before the senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police N. Shashikumar and Additional Superintendent of Police B Jayaprakash, persuaded the protesting right wing activists to withdraw their agitation and assured them of swift action.
As a precautionary measure, the police have beefed up security arrangement by posting the KSRP and DAR platoons along with the civil police constables deputed from Kalaburagi city in the sensitive areas to avert any untoward incident. No arrests have been made so far.