Byndoor: Alleged Religious Conversion Sparks Clashes - Situation Under Control
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (KD/NR)
Kundapur, Mar 3: Clashes erupted between Hindu activists, BJP leaders and the local police in Byndoor as a off-shoot of an alleged incident of religious conversion, here on Saturday March 1.
Members of christian community, in a prayer hall at Byndoor converted a Hindu girl to their religion, after which her marriage was solemnized to a boy of that particular community, according to an Hindu activist's version. To oppose this move the Hindu activists gathered together near the prayer hall to show their protest. This information reached the police, who apprehending communal clashes immediately rushed to the spot and tried to amicably settle the matter.
However, the protesters did not pay heed to any pacification from the police and without accepting a peaceful compromise on the matter, began to clash with the police. The matter took an ugly turn with the protesters turning violent and unruly. In order to control the situation police then were constrained to resort to lathi charge. In this lathi charge the BJP leader and former fisheries department president K Lashmi Narayana Sheregar was badly injured.
Moreover it is understood that due to the lathi charge nearly 25 people too have fallen victim to it and amongst those injured were seven woman who were badly injured. This action on part of the police evoked the ire of the BJP workers who protested stoutly against the police action due to which their leader was hurt. In retaliation they blocked the roads and shouted slogans against the police.
Trying to provide an explanation for the incident which took place, the Byndoor prayer hall in-charge Bobby George said "since past eleven years we have been running this Ashram and provided nearly 35 poor children with free education, food and accommodation. A worker of our Ashram named Vasu Reddy a resident of Haveery was engaged on the 10th February to a certain Thangamani's daughter Veena who is a resident of Ganganadu. We had the wedding reception of the newly wedded couple in the Asharm. This was mistaken by the activists as being conversion rites." he tried to clarify.
Latest developments:
The unruly situation consequent to the alleged religious conversion has now been fully brought under control. Case has been file against the BJP leader and twenty-five Hindu activists who were said to be involved in the clash with the police.
Addressing media persons here BJP presdent Kota Shrinivas Poojary giving his side of the incident said that it was because of the sudden entry of the police, that the situation took a worst turn. Otherwise the matter could have been discussed and settled. The matter was actually worsened by police entry into the scene.
Further he in anger said that police have filed cases against our main leaders, if that is the case then let them file case against all of us too, and if they cannot do so, then they must immediately withdraw all the complaints and cases and give the 'B' report.
On the occasion Udupi former MLA Ragupathi Bhat, BJP leaders Laxmi Narayan, Yuva Morcha secretary Sudhir K S, District Secretary Suresh Nayar, Suprasad Shetty, Suresh Bijoor, Satish Nayka and Sumathi Mogaveera were also present.