Udupi: Clashes break out between BJP, Congress workers

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NM)

Update: March 13

Udupi, Mar 12: Trouble broke out at Tenkapete here on Tuesday March 12 after BJP workers allegedly threw crackers at a hotel owned by a Congress member.

It is said that Shyamprasad Kudva of BJP, who defeated Ajith Rao in the just-concluded Udupi CMC elections, carried out a victory procession in an open jeep at Tenkapete.

The procession was flanked by a number of BJP supporters on bikes, carrying flags and bursting crackers.

As they reached Sri Ram Bhavan Hotel, owned by Ajith Rao, they threw in crackers at the hotel and allegedly created a ruckus.

As soon as the news reached Congress workers, they rushed to the spot in large numbers and retaliated. Verbal duels and clashes erupted between the two groups, said eyewitnesses.

Police led by DySP Prabhudev Mane, circle inspector Maruthi Nayak and town SI Lingaraju arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.

However, though BJP workers left the spot after intervention of the police, hundreds of Congress workers went on a flash protest demanding apology from BJP and police action in the matter. They also shouted slogans against Shyamprasad Kudva.

The Congress workers then decided to submit a memoradum and lodge a complaint with the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police on Wednesday March 13 and ended the protest for the night.