By Team Mangalorean

Last update 11:30 PM(IST) Oct 8 2006
(With inputs from PTI)

• Bajaranga Dala Chief Vinay Shetty Arrested
• Community Leaders Appeal For Peace

Mangalore Oct 8: Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed on Sunday held discussions with the Home Ministry officials on the situation arising out of the communal clashes in Mangalore and also met Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi.

The Minister said the Governor had decided to cut short his stay in the capital and return to the State in view of the tense situation arising out of the violence in Mangalore which has so far claimed two lives and injuries more than 70 others.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the home department is ascertaining whether SIMI activists had any role in the violence, which erupted after Bajrang Dal activists stopped a vehicle carrying cattle to a slaughter house on Wednesday.

Curfew, which was relaxed between 9 AM and 11 AM to enable people to buy essential items, has been extended till 1800 hrs on Monday, he said. The district administration would take a decision on whether to relax the curfew for sometime or to continue it on Monday morning, he said.

As many as 300 people had been taken into custody in the last three days, Dayanand said.

Karnataka Home Minister M P Prakash, who has blamed fundamentalists from both communities for the trouble in this communally sensitive coastal district, is expected to arrive here on Monday to review the situation.

Legal probe into Mangalore: Bangarappa

Samajwadi Party state President and former Chief Minister S Bangarappa on Sunday demanded that the government institute a judicial enquiry into the communal violence which left two persons dead in the district.

The inquiry would be an "apt decision" though it would consume longer time, but it was inevitable, he told reporters in Mangalore.

The JD (S)-BJP coalition government had completely failed to contain the communal violence on day one itself, he charged.

He also demanded a suitable compensation for the deceased, injured and those who lost the properties in the incident.

The government should also take stern action against the organisations and parties, which are behind the incidents, he said.

Vehicle movement towards Mangalore hit due to clashes

Movement of passenger and goods vehicles from Kerala towards Mangalore was badly hit due to Wednesday's communal violence causing hardship to various sections of people commuting to the neighbouring commercial hub.

Violence had erupted after Bajrangdal activists stopped a vehicle carrying cattle to slaughter hosues.

The bus services from here to Mangalore was suspended completely apprehending attacks from miscreants hitting large number of people, including students and patients, while trucks were operating skeletal services through diverted routes.

Several vehicles towards Mangalore were stranded in various parts of north Kerala, a senior police official said today. However, train services sre not hit, he said.

The buses, including those of the KSRTC, were plying upto to the border town of Thalappady, 14 km south of Mangalore, as patients bound for Mangalore and Manipal were seen moving in ambulances, they said.

Some Mumbai bound private buses from Kasaragod were stoned a few days back near Mangalore after the clashes erupted on Wednesday last.

A strong police team led by director general of police (Kannur range) Anantha Krishnan is camping at the Kerala border town to monitor the law and order situation in the area, they added.

Update 7:30 PM(IST) Oct 8 2006

An uneasy calm continues to prevail today in Mangalore after the violence of the past three days which had all Mangaloreans cooped up indoors.  No violence was reported anywhere after the curfew was re-claimed ensuing it’s relaxation for 2 hours in the morning.

A press meet of community leaders was held at the circuit house in the evening at 5:30 pm. Chairman of Nitte Education Trust Vinay Hegde, Yenepoya Abdul Kunhi, Mangalore Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, KCCI President Cap. John Menezes, Seer of Adichunchanagiri Mutt and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura who were present at the press meet appealed for peace.

Mangalore DC Maheshwar Rao issued an order that all educational institutions in Mangalore city and Ullal police station limits should remain closed until Monday Oct 9, 2006.

CRPF AND RAF personnel conducted a flag march around Mangalore city, Ullala, Konaje and BC Road to give confidence to the public.  This also proved to be an assurance to the public that the safety of the city was in good hands, in case of any eruption of further violence.

As reported earlier the curfew will continue until tomorrow and maybe relaxed for 4 hours if the peace and quiet remains consistent throughout.

Bajarang Dal Chief Vinay Shetty Arrested

In the most latest development in the city, the Bajrang Dal leader Vinay L. Shetty, who had given the first call for Mangalore Bundh earlier, was arrested by the Bunder Police and was later produced before the Magistrate court. He has now been remanded to judicial custody.

Update 9:30 AM Oct 8, 2006

As announced earlier curfew was relaxed for two hours this morning between 9:00 am to 11:00 am here in Ullal, Konaje and Mangalore rural limits which were hit by communal violence leaving two persons dead in the last three days.

People were seen rushing to the markets, medical stores and grocery shops to collect the essential supplies. People were put on tremendous hardship to collect food stuff, specially milk due to short supply and in some places police threatened to lati charge the crowd when things went out of control. Although markets were open, there were no enough items available as the new supply did not arrive. It was announced earlier that milk and newspaper distribution were exempted from curfew regulations, but in many places police did not allow the supply thus creating panic among people.

DGP Sial speaking to our correspondent said that situation in the city is normal and fully under control. Although curfew was lifted for some time today section 144 will still be in place till further orders. Curfew will continue from 11:00 am onwards through the day and tonight. Situation will be studied later in the day and accordingly if found normal curfew may be relaxed for 4 hours tomorrow morning. CRPF and RAF troupes will hold a flag march in the city tomorrow and decision on further relaxing or lifting curfew will be taken only then.

He also said that a total of 274 clash related and 93 preventive arrests have been made so far. No arrests have been made related to any specific criminal incident. "Our first priority is to curb the violence and bring peace and normalcy", he continued, "there is enough police force in action to control the situation"

DGP Sial has visited all sensitive locations in Mangalore and took stock of the situation.

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