Section 144 imposed in Belagavi as freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue vandalized

After the incidents of vandalisation of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue, Belagavi Police has imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC from 8 am on December 18 to 6 pm on December 19 in Belagavi.

 

 

According to the Police Commissioner's office, the prohibitory order is imposed under Section 144 CrPC from 8 am on December 18 to 6 pm on December 19, for the Belagavi police commissionerate area, which comprises Belagavi taluk. The incident occurred when the city is hosting the winter session of the state legislature at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here.

  

Condemning the incidents as "unruly", Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he has directed the Home Minister to take strict action against those trying to disturb peace and order following which some arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

 

 

 

Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, the CM said, "Incidents like stone pelting, causing damage to public property and government vehicles is illegal, so police have been directed to take long-term measures so that such incidents don't recur."

 

Noting that the attitude of defacing or desecrating statues of national heroes and patriotic leaders was not right, Bommai said such leaders belong to every community and need to be respected. According to police, the statue has been shifted to Tilakwadi police station and a police force has been deployed in the area.

Earlier in an incident in North Belagavi, a crowd gathered near Sambhaji Circle around midnight and started shouting slogans and began pelting government and police vehicles with stones. They reportedly resorted to violence after news broke about the alleged desecration of Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Bengaluru. Police intervened and brought the situation under control, official sources said.

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