Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Apr 14: Leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities and local people’s representatives, held consultations on Sunday April 13 to discuss prevailing situation in Kalladka town and ways to tackle the problem of sporadic disturbances affectively. Kalladka is slipping back to normalcy, after being in the grip of disturbances and tight police vigil for a couple of days. Movement of people however, remains affected.

At the meeting, the leaders felt that those having information about people involved with disturbing the atmosphere should pass on the same to the police. It also requested the police to keep an eye on anti-social elements.

On Sunday, several shops, hotels and establishments in the town were opened, and they succeeded in transacting some business after a lull. Police contingents were seen deployed at strategic points. Fish and vegetable markets however, did not see much activity. Because of strong police presence, normal life in the town was thrown out of gear on Friday and Saturday. People had difficulty to even get milk and other essentials, it is learnt. Some residents expressed the fear lurking behind their minds about the possibility of stones falling on their roofs, and policemen knocking at their doors. The children also remained mostly indoors.

The business dealings in the town had been severely affected due to disturbances arising out of pelting stones at a political convention last month at Kalladka. In a few days, the town had limped back to normalcy, but the atmosphere was vitiated again by communal disturbances which occurred on Thursday last. A businessman named Abbas felt that it might take over two weeks for the market to recover if police continue to keep tight leash on the town.

Bantwal police circle inspector, Rajashekhar Maistry, has observed that situation in Kalladka has been almost brought to control by Sunday morning, but expected sometime before normalcy could be totally restored. He opined that maintaining law and order will not pose much of a problem to the police force, if people voluntarily come forward and provide information to the department about people who incite illegal activities. He said his department has brought leniency in its operations since Sunday morning, after observing that the situation in the town has partly returned to normalcy. He asked the people not to be unduly perturbed or fearful.