The Independence Day celebrations which began on a happy note in Shivamogga on Monday morning ended with the district administration clamping prohibitory orders in the city in the evening, following tension over the display of Veer Savarkar’s portrait at an intersection. Amidst tension, a person was stabbed by unknown people in the city.
A group of people had placed Savarkar’s portrait at Shivappa Nayaka Circle in the city as part of the celebrations. Another group wanted it to be removed. Both the groups entered into a heated argument. As a few went ahead and removed the portrait, the police intervened and dispersed the mob.
While the Hindutva group wanted the police to arrest those who removed the portrait, another group argued that Savarkar did not deserve to be included among freedom fighters. The district administration clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr. PC in Shivamogga city and Bhadravati town until Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure. Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner R. Selvamai and Superintendent of Police B.M. Laxmi Prasad, the police dispersed the mob. A few people were detained.
