Six injured as two groups clash during temple fair in Hassan village, house damaged

HASSAN: Six people were injured and a house was damaged in a clash between two groups over conducting the temple Jatra Mahotsav at Saidarahalli village in Arasikere taluk on Sunday night.

While talks were going on with villagers under the leadership of Minister K M Shivalingegowda’s close aide and supporter Nanjundaswamy regarding conducting Jatra Mahotsav in the village, some youths of the village and JDS leader N R Santhosh’s supporters Siddesh, Sarvesh and Swamy, who came to the spot, expressed opposition to Nanjundaswamy’s decision.

At this time, an argument started between both sides and fight escalated and they attacked each other with sticks and stones. While women, children and villagers present at spot ran helter-skelter, a person’s house was attacked and windows were broken with stones and house was damaged.

The injured are undergoing treatment at taluk hospital. Saidarahalli is a village with majority of Bovi community people and those who were assaulted have expressed outrage against Excise Minister K M Shivalingegowda. Police visited the spot and conducted inspection and no complaint has been registered so far. The incident occurred in Banavara police station jurisdiction.