Four injured as Congress, BJP workers clash at Kelinja in Bantwal

Team Udayavani, May 20, 2018, 10:43 AM IST

Bantwal: Four persons were injured after clashes erupted between supporters of BJP and Congress parties at Kelinja in Vittal here late evening on Saturday May 19^th.

Two Congress workers identified as Azeez and Salwin were injured in the clash and have been admitted at the community health centre. Two BJP workers were also injured in the incident.

It is understood that Congress party workers were celebrating BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa resignation as chief minister just before trust vote in the assembly earlier in the day. Congress workers reportedly chanted ‘BJP murdabad’, and BJP workers who were within the earshot retaliated by chanting ‘Congress murdabad’. This led to arguments which only escalated into a physical brawl between the the two groups. It is said that the groups threw soda bottles and attacked each other with sticks.

There was a clash between two groups and four persons were injured at Kudtamugeru in Kolnad too. Two of the injured have been identified as Dhanraj and Sharath and are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Puttur.

Higher police officials including SP Ravikante Gowda rushed to the spot on receiving information and brought the situation under control. The police have tightened security in the area.

SP Ravikante Gowda clarified that there was no communal clash and that it was a minor incident involving political parties and strictly warned against spreading rumours on WhatsApp and other social media regarding the Vittal and Kolnad incidents.