Facebook comment fallout: Protests, stone pelting create unrest in Kasargod
Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (NM)
Kasargod, Jul 23: Incidents of stone pelting on religious centers and buses and protest rallies have been reported in many places following a defamatory comment about Prophet Mohammed in Facebook. Buses have remained off the roads.
Meanwhile, the police have made arrested a person for pelting stones at Muhimmat Community Hall at Shantipalla. The arrested is identified as Prashanth (24) of Mayippady.
According to reports, Prashanth and two others allegedly escaped from the scene after pelting stones at Muhimmat Hall on Sunday July 20 afternoon. However, the bike they used for their getaway rammed into a car, injuring Prashanth. He was then admitted to a private hospital in Kasargod while the other two fled from the scene.
Following a tip-off, the police questioned Prashanth, who admitted to the crime and also revealed the identity of the other two. The police are on the lookout for them.
Incidents of stone pelting
A prayer centre in Kannatipura, Uppala and Badriya Jumma Masjid, Uppala were damaged in stone-pelting. Buses were damaged in Kumble, and two more buses plying in Perla-Badiadka route were attacked when they were parked at a petrol pump at Shantipalla. A KSRTC bus which was plying from Mangalore to Kasargod was damaged on Sunday night.
Separate cases of stone pelting and damage to a prayer centre have been registered in Kumble and Manjeshwar police stations.
Buses have stopped plying in Kumble, Badiadka, Malleriya, Perla, Peral, Kannur and Bambrana routes. In addition, police personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas like Kumble, Naikapu, Shantipalla, Shiriya, Kannatipura, Hosangady, and Uppala to prevent untoward incidents.
Despite the prohibitory orders, a group of about 30 persons had taken a protest rally in Kanhangad triggering violence in the region. The police jeep was also damaged in stone-pelting. The incident occurred at Madiyaan.
With regard to the incident, a case was lodged against several people in Kanhangad police station.
Presently, the region is under control and many more police personnel have been deployed at the place.
District police chief Thomson Jose has ordered the police force to take stringent action against those who are involved in disrupting peace and breaking law and order in the region.
Also, Kumble police have registered cases against a thousand people allegedly belonging to Sangh Parivar for staging a protest rally without prior permission. The rally was held condemning the incident of stone pelting at a temple.