FIR registered against Hindu activists after protest against inter-faith marriage

BAGALKOT: Following a protest by Hindu activists at Navanagar opposing the love marriage of a couple from different communities, an FIR has been registered against several protesters on charges of assaulting a police head constable, verbal abuse and obstruction of duty.

A large number of Hindu activists had gathered in front of the Navanagar police station on Wednesday night and clashed with a woman’s family in front of the SP’s office. The protest turned violent and people pelted stones at police. The police caned the protesters to disperse the mob before the situation got out of hand.

The FIR has been registered based on the complaint lodged by Head Constable Prakash Nayak at the Navanagar station against Hindu outfit leaders Kumaraswamy Hiremath, Vikram Deshpande, Manoj Karodiwala, Prakash Niranjan, Ramesh Bandivadder, Kumar Ganigera, Nagesh Ambigera, and Raju Neelanayaka and others.

The protesters used abusive language at on-duty police personnel. The FIR has been registered under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 324, 504, and 149.

Tension prevailed in Bagalkot’s Navanagar after a couple from different communities got married in a temple and came to the SP’s office seeking protection. This led to outrage among pro-Hindu activists, who gathered in large numbers.

The family of the woman was also present at the SP’s office. The activists got into an argument with the woman’s family members. Meanwhile, Navanagar CPI Ramanna Biradar intervened and tried to disperse both groups. An altercation broke out between Hindu activist Kumaraswamy and CPI Biradar.

The activists staged a protest demanding action against CPI Biradar. The protesters pelted stones at the police. Later, the police detained some of them. As the situation was going out of hand, the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters, and bring the situation under control.

Police superintendent Amarnath Reddy visited the place and additional police forces have been deployed for security.