Bangalore: Following two untoward incidents of vandalism of a statue of freedom fighter Sangoli Rayanna and stone pelting on government vehicles in Karnataka’s Belgaum district, the administration on Saturday issued prohibitory orders in the city and taluk.
According to the Belgaum Police Commissioner’s office, a prohibitory order under Section 144 of the Criminal Penal Code has been imposed for the Belagavi Police Commissionerate area from 8 am on 18 December to 6 pm on 19 December. Belagavi taluk also falls in this area.
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Let us inform that today in Belagavi, miscreants vandalized the statue of Sangoli Rayanna and about 26 vehicles of Karnataka Government and Police. So far, the police have arrested 27 people in the case. Belgaum Police Commissioner K Thiagarajan said that ’27 have been arrested in 3 police station areas in Belgaum for attacking the statue of Sangoli Rayanna.’
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai termed the incident as condemnable. He said, those responsible should not incite others to violence and should take law and order in their hands.
The responsible people should not provoke others for violence and take law and order into their hands. As far as Karnataka is concerned we will not allow anybody to take the law into their hands: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai pic.twitter.com/a3HYP1pAnp
– ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2021
The Chief Minister further said, ‘As far as Karnataka is concerned, we will not allow anyone to take law in our hands. Responsible people should not provoke anyone. Shivaji Maharaj, Sangoli Rayanna and Rani Chennamma united the country. If we start fighting in his name, it will be an injustice to the fight he has done.
Earlier, in an incident in North Belagavi, a mob gathered near Sambhaji Circle at midnight and started shouting slogans and pelting stones at government and police vehicles. Official sources said that the mob turned to violence after reports of alleged defacement of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Bengaluru. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
Home Minister A. Janendra said that the police have been directed to take strict action against those involved in such acts and an FIR has been registered in connection with these incidents and some people have been arrested.