Communal tension hits Karnataka towns over Palestinian flags at rallies

Tensions flared in Karnataka's Chitradurga, Davanagere, and Kolar due to Palestinian flags during Milad-ul-Nabi processions. Six arrests were made in Mangaluru for allegedly attacking a mosque. BJP leaders requested the government to involve NIA for a thorough investigation into these incidents, suspecting terror group sleeper cells and divisive elements' involvement.
Communal tension hits Karnataka towns over Palestinian flags at rallies
(File photo)
BENGALURU: Communal tension prevailed over the waving of Palestinian flags during Milad-ul-Nabi procession in three Karnataka towns - Chitradurga, Davanagere and Kolar - on Monday even as Mangaluru police arrested six persons for allegedly throwing stones at a mosque near Surathkal in Mangaluru on Sunday night.
Two more arrests in another incident of communal disturbance were made from Bantwal, 25 km from Mangaluru.
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The multiple incidents of communal unrest in different parts of the state come days after violence broke out during Ganesha idol-immersion procession in Mandya district's Nagamangala taluk in which rioters and arsonists targeted vehicles and shops. The situation in the town is normal now.
BJP's R Ashoka and CT Ravi urged Siddaramaiah govt to refer all communal incidents, including the riots in Nagamangala, to NIA for a comprehensive probe as they suspect involvement of sleeper cells of terror groups and some divisive elements 'from a neighbouring state'.
In Chitradurga, a group of youths allegedly raised slogans in support of Palestine during an Eid Milad procession. Police confiscated two Palestinian flags.
In neighbouring Davangere, about 60km away, disagreement surfaced over placement of flags on a mobile tower near the police station in Gandhinagar on Sunday evening, leading to communal unrest. The authorities filed an FIR against eight people allegedly involved in dispute.

The flags have since been removed. In Kolar, too, a pro-Palestine flag was spotted near Anjuman building on MG Road.
Mangaluru commissioner Anupam Agrawal said the six arrested for Sunday night's mosque attack have been identified. Five of them have a criminal background.
The accused allegedly hurled stones at Masjidul Huda Juma Masjid in Katipalla near Surathkal around 9.50pm Sunday. According to a complaint filed by mosque president KH Abdul Rahiman, the masjid's windowpanes were damaged which he alleged was 'intentional' .
In another incident from the coastal district, a likely law-and-order situation arising out of a call for a protest rally at Bantwal Cross Road, around 25 km from Mangaluru, was defused by police through timely intervention.
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