MANGALURU: One person died and six others, including two policemen, were injured when two groups clashed over celebration of birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan in Madikeri on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Kuttappa, joint general secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishat in Kodagu district. He died on the way to hospital. He was being brought to Mangaluru for treatment for the severe head injury he received during the clash.
According to police sources, it was a clash between those who were supporting the state government- organised Tippu Sultan birth anniversary and those who were opposing the event. The groups pelted each other with stones and bottles. Sources said the police and the district administration had ignored intelligence reports stating that situation was volatile as both groups were planning to incite communal tension during the event.
There was strong opposition in the district to the government' s plan to hold the anniversary for historic reasons. Local historians say Tipu Sultan during his reign in the late 18the century had taken several thousand Kodavas and local people as prisoners and had used them to do menial tasks.
Following the clashes, Madikeri and nearby towns like Virajpet, Somawarpet, Kutta and Ponnampet remained tense. Aditional police forces have been dispatched. The district administration has clamped prohibitive orders under Section144 of the IPC for next three days.
