MADIKERI/BENGALURU: More than 100 BJP workers, including three legislators, were detained by the Karnataka police for trying to disrupt the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations on Thursday. Extensive security arrangements have been put in place in Kodagu district as the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations had turned communal in the district last year.
The three legislators detained are Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah, Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan and MLC Sunil Subramani.
In other parts of the state, BJP staged protests against Tipu Jayanti by the state government. Despite fears of communal strife, no such incidents have been reported.
Kodagu bandh
The Kodagu bandh called by Anti Tipu Jayanti Committee, BJP, Sangh Parivar, all the Kodava samajas and few Gowda samajas in the district was peaceful. Until noon, private buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis remained off the road. However, a few KSRTC buses were seen plying in the early hours of the day.
In Kadagadalu, miscreants cut a huge tree to disrupt traffic. In Virajpet, Somwarpet and other parts of the district, poojas were organised in temples for VHP leader Kuttappa who died during the Tipu Jayanti celebrations last year.
Prohibitory orders are in place in the district from November 7 to 11.
Detained
Police detained more than 60 BJP workers when they demonstrated against Tipu Jayanti at the Kushalnagar bus stand on Thursday. The superintendent of police of Kodagu Rajendra Prasad told reporters that Tipu Jayanti celebrations were being held without any trouble. He said that Bopaiah, Appachu Ranjan and Subramani, who were chief guests at the official function organised by the administration attempted to disrupt the celebrations and tried to take out a procession. "Police detained all of them as prohibitory orders are in force," he added.
In Mysuru, a bike rally was taken out from Mandi Mohalla to Kalamandir, where the official celebrations were held in the presence of hundreds of people.
Close to hundred demonstrators, including BJP MP Pratap Simha, former MLCs Madhusudan and C H Vijayshankar were arrested for trying to disrupt the celebrations.