Tensions remained high in Belagavi and border areas on Tuesday, as six trucks from Maharashtra were damaged on the Pune-Bengaluru highway in the morning when Kannada activists pelted stones.
The incident took place at the Hirebagewadi toll gate, about 14 kms from Belagavi, at around 11 am.
The incident occurred when activists of Karnataka Rakshna Vedike, headed by its state president Narayanagowda, tried to enter Belagavi via Hirebagewadi toll plaza on Tuesday morning.
A large number of Kannada activists who were stopped by the police at Hirebagewadi toll plaza, indulged in throwing stones on Maharashtra-registered vehicles and damaged at least six trucks.
According to Narayanagowda, the activists were on their way to Rani Chennamma Circle, Belagavi, in protest against the possible arrival of two Maharashtra cabinet ministers to Belagavi on Tuesday.
In spite of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s appeal to the two ministers to refrain from entering Belagavi, the two ministers had issued statements that they would enter Belagavi on December 6.
However, the two ministers decided to avoid visiting Belagavi on Tuesday due to the escalating tension on the border, after Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil issued orders prohibiting the Maharashtra ministers from entering Karnataka.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in Belagavi city as huge police force was deployed at Rani Chenamma Circle to face any eventuality.
The situation became more tense as a team of MES leaders were taken into custody by police Tuesday evening after they had gone to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
Meanwhile, several Shiv Sena activists from Kolhapur and border areas thronged Karnataka check post at Kognoli border on the National Highway.
Angered over the development, the activists staged a Rasta Roko on the NH4. Karnataka police stopped them from entering the state.
