Curfew Extended in Shimoga, Hassan, Mangalore Peaceful
Shimoga / Mangalore, Mar 3 (PTI): The situation in Shimoga, Hassan and Mangalore remained calm today after they were hit by incidents of violence over publication of a purported article by Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.
Barring stray stone-throwing incidents, the situation in Shimoga showed signs of returning to normalcy with authorities relaxing curfew for two hours to enable people to buy essential commodities.
Shimoga has been under curfew for the last two days after protests by Muslims over the Kannada version of the article on burqa published in a leading Kannada daily turned violent leading to two deaths including one in police firing.
The situation in Mangalore, where unidentified persons had last night attacked two newspaper offices and hurled a petrol bomb on one of the establishments, "was under control and peaceful", Dakshina Kannada district Superintendent of Police Subramanyeshwara Rao told PTI on phone.
Petrol bomb was hurled on the office of Kannada Prabha, which carried the article and another eveninger was stoned.
Prohibitory orders in Mangalore would continue tomorrow also, Rao said.
The situation in Hassan, which was also affected by violent protests, was returning to normal, police said. Prohibitory orders, which were in force since March one, were lifted today.
In Shimoga, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's home town, Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pande held a peace's committee meeting, attended by leaders of all political parties, where he appealed to them to use their influence to restore peace and harmony.
Responding to pleas by political leaders, he said suitable compensation would be provided to the families of those who died and lost property.
He said curfew is likely to to be relaxed during morning to evening from tomorrow and would be enforced during the night hours for one more week in Shimoga.
Director General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh, who visited the troubled spots in Shimoga, asked the public to help police enforce law and order to maintain peace. He said depending upon the situation police would alter restrictions imposed.