Two killed in Shimoga communal flare up; curfew clamped

Shimoga (Karnataka), Mar 1 (PTI) Two persons were killed,
including one in police firing, and four others injured on
Monday in violence during protests by Muslims over publication
of an article penned by controversial Bangladeshi writer
Taslima Nasreen in a vernacular daily.
The authorities imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew in four
trouble-hit localities in old Shimoga, in the southern Indian
state of Karnataka.
While one died in police firing, the other succumbed to
injuries sustained in stone-pelting in hospital, police said.
A 1500-strong crowd took out a procession to express
their anger over the Kannada translation of Taslima's article
published on Sunday in a leading Kannada daily on burqa
tradition.
The procession turned violent as some persons pelted
stones on vehicles. At least 20 vehicles, including eight
state transport corporation buses, were damaged.
Police said as the situation threatened to go out of
control, they opened fire, killing a person. Police said four
others injured in stone-pelting have been hospitalised.
Prohibitory orders was also imposed on the entire city
and additional reinforcements of police rushed, Superintendent
of Police S Murugan said.
Hassan was also tense after 15,000 Muslims held a protest
rally and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
Several vehicles were damaged in stone-pelting and some
shops were torched, police said.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who made a suo motu
statement in the state assembly on the violence in Shimoga and
Hassan, said "the situation is under control now".
He said cases have been booked against those involved
in violence.
Sensing trouble over the article, the police heads in all
districts were alerted on Sunday itself, he said, adding a
strict vigil was being maintained. PTI MSR