Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Dec 25: Congress and BJP workers fought a pitched battle and pelted stones at each other at Koppa in the district due to a WhatsApp message that was reportedly misinterpreted. The incident occurred on the night of Saturday December 23.

Police personnel resorted to caning the crowd to separate the workers of BJP and Congress parties. Three persons, Itihas and Rakesh from BJP and Chetan from Congress, were injured in this incident. They are being treated in the government hospital at Koppa.

BJP activist, Rakesh, had sent a message through WhatsApp. It is said that Congress leaders misinterpreted and misunderstood this message, rushed to the BJP office at Koppa, forcibly brought out Rakesh and attacked him. Rakesh has since filed a compliant of attempt to murder against Congress workers.

As soon as this information spread, hundreds of BJP activists rushed to the hospital and gathered in front of it. Congress workers too came together near Aralikatte. BJP workers then marched towards the police station at night when Congress workers confronted them. Both sides were involved in a free-for-all apart from stone pelting.

Police personnel intervened at this juncture and resorted to light lathi charge. The crowd dispersed from there. BJP activists later held protest in front of the police station, urging arrest of Congress leaders who were responsible for this incident.