3 houses torched in Mysore, 20 injured

Mysore, DHNS:

Several properties, including places of worship, were damaged and three houses set on fire in Kyatamaranahalli in Mysore on Wednesday night, following a clash between people belonging to two different communities.

About twenty people, including assistant sub-inspector Hanumanthappa from Udayagiri police station, were injured in the incident. About 35 persons, suspected to be involved in the arson, were arrested on Thursday. Meanwhile, one person was found murdered in front of Suryaranayaswamy temple at Kyatamarahanahalli  on Thursday night. According to police sources, the victim, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, had been selling coconuts in front of the temple. His head had been crushed with a stone.   Corporator and former Mysore mayor H N Srikantaiah (who defected to the BJP from the JD(S) last year), had to run for his life when a mob, armed with weapons, attacked his house and ransacked it. His neighbour Venkatesh's house, an anganwadi and several Kannada flagposts were also damaged. Two- wheelers were torched and cars and trucks stoned. Though the police fired in the air, lobbed tear gas shells and used mild force, it took around five hours for the restoration of peace. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in the area. However, fearing threat to their lives, several families have vacated the locality on Thursday. The seed of violence was sown when three youths, belonging to a particular community, who were allegedly under the influence of drugs, picked up a quarrel with a shop keeper from another community on Tuesday evening over a trivial issue. Instead of inserting a one rupee coin, a youth had inserted 50 paisa in the coin phone box and this resulted in an altercation. The shopkeeper then informed the police. The cops freed the youths with a warning on Wednesday evening. In an act of venegeance, the youths resorted to violence, supported by some other members from their community. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who is in-charge of the district, took stock of the situation on Thursday and alleged that it was a pre-planned act to disturb the peace in the area.