Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Aug 20: A protest organized by the Congress party near the MCC office at Lalbagh, condemning the governor's permission for prosecution against chief minister Siddaramaiah, turned violent, resulting in a woman being injured. 

After the leaders concluded their speeches, some Congress activists set fire to tyres on the road in the presence of police, who quickly extinguished the flames. While some workers sat on the road, others began throwing stones at a bus, injuring a female passenger. The bus had about 10 to 15 passengers on board.

The injured woman was taken to the hospital for treatment. The bus driver and conductor expressed their frustration with the workers who had shattered the bus's windshield. Despite efforts by Congress leaders to calm the situation, the workers did not heed their words.

While the protest was ongoing in one lane, vehicles continued to move on the other side of the road. A bus traveling from State Bank to Jokatte was stopped by some workers, one of whom threw a stone at the front windshield. Although police intervened and apprehended the stone-thrower, other protesters prevented them from taking him to the police van. A video of the incident has since gone viral.

Police arrested Shahul Hamid, Anwar, and Kishore Shetty in connection with the stone-throwing incident. Approximately 10 to 15 people were involved, and the identities of the others are currently being tracked. The city police commissioner reported that the injured woman received first aid at the hospital and returned home.

There were platoons of ASRP police, two DySPs, several inspectors, SIs, and more than 200 police officers present at the scene when the incident occurred. The public criticized the police for failing to contain the Congress workers.

The city police commissioner defended the police response, stating that the protesters had suddenly brought five tyres, three of which were confiscated before they could be burned.

Later that night, BJP Yuva Morcha activists protested at Barke police station, demanding the arrest of Congress leader and MLC Ivan D’Souza. The ACP arrived and accepted their complaint. The city police commissioner noted that no formal complaint has been lodged against MLC Ivan D’Souza, but assured that appropriate action would be taken if one is filed.

Meanwhile, DK Bus Owners’ Association president Azeez Partippadi and chief secretary Ramachandra Pilar have called for stringent action against those responsible for pelting stones at the bus and damaging it.