20 arrested for communal clash in Belgaum suburb

Argument between two groups over putting up a banner triggers trouble

Additional forces were deployed at Anagol and communally sensitive areas of Belgaum city after Sunday’s clash. Photo: D. B. Patil

Tension gripped Anagol, a major suburb of Belgaum, after two groups belonging to different communities clashed on Sunday morning.

Trouble broke out after an argument between the two groups over putting up a banner near Rajahans Galli. The heated argument soon escalated into clashes between people supporting the two groups. At least eight persons were injured in the clashes and stone throwing, according to the police.

The police personnel rushed to the trouble area and additional forces were deployed in communally sensitive areas of the city.

The police later described the situation as being “under control”.

The Tilakwadi police arrested 20 people in connection with the violence.

Of the injured, six were taken to the District Government Hospital, one was treated as an outpatient and another with head injuries was admitted to the KLE Prabhakar Kore Hospital, the police said. Doctors at the hospitals said the condition of all the injured was stable.

Senior police officers, including Inspector-General of Police (Northern Range) K.S.R. Charan Reddy and Superintendent of Police Chandragupta, visited the troubled areas.