Mandya district in Karnataka witnessed violent clashes during a Ganesh Chaturthi procession in Nagamangala area on Wednesday evening, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders and announce holidays for local schools and colleges. According to Mallikarjun Baladandi, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Mandya, 46 people have been detained, and Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been enforced. The curfew will remain in effect until September 14.
The violence erupted when a group of miscreants allegedly set multiple shops and bikes on fire during Ganesh Chaturthi procession, leading to further chaos. Seven bikes, six small shops, and other property were damaged due to stone-pelting by both groups, while two police personnel sustained injuries. Fortunately, no public injuries have been reported. “The situation is now under control, and police personnel are patrolling all streets,” said SP Baladandi.
According to the SP, the conflict began when the Ganesh Chaturthi procession halted for 5-7 minutes near a sensitive area in front of a dargah, leading to an exchange of words between two groups. The police initially dispersed the crowd, but tensions escalated when members of the procession accused the police of restricting their movement. Subsequently, people from both sides gathered and began pelting stones at each other, escalating into a full-blown riot. As the groups dispersed, some participants reportedly set fire to shops and vehicles.
This incident follows complaints from the Muslim community that the procession had halted and people were dancing in front of the dargah, while the Hindu community maintained that they were proceeding as usual. Authorities have increased police presence at over 400 locations to prevent any further escalation.
The Karnataka Home Minister, Parameshwara, confirmed that 52 people from both communities have been arrested in connection with the riots. Addressing the media in Bengaluru, he stated, "The situation has been brought under control, and additional security forces have been deployed in the area." He added that the police are reviewing CCTV footage and other video evidence to identify further suspects.
Local authorities have assured the public that those detained will only be charged if their involvement in the violence is proven. The police have emphasized that most of the detainees are local residents and that no outsiders are currently involved.