Shivsainiks stage huge protest at Pune-Bengaluru NH4A
Block highway for over an hour; detained, released
Shiv Sena leader Vijay Davane engaged in an arguement with Karnataka police at Kognoli checkpoint on NH4A.
Photo Credits: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
Belagavi city will be out of bounds as Karnataka will be observing the Rajyotsava (Statehood Day) on Tuesday. Apart from processions and cultural programmes to be held around the city, Kannadigas will be also exhibiting a show of strength by carrying a 10,000 feet long Kannada flag in a procession.
On the other hand, Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi city and border areas to Maharashtra will be staging protests. Observed by the Marathi-speaking people of Belagavi as Kala Din (Black Day), protests, cycle rally, public meeting and various programmes have been organised as the mark of protests. Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi and border areas have been opposing the merger of Marathi-dominant areas bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka since the state was formed on November 1, 1956.
High voltage drama was witnessed at Kognoli, the border point of Karnataka and Maharashtra on the Pune-Bengaluru NH4A. A large number of Shivsainiks who were heading towards Belagavi to join the Marathi-speaking people in the protest rally were stopped by Karnataka police. The Kolhapur district chief of Shivsena (Thakeray group) who was heading the rally was engaged in an argument with the Karnataka police and later staged protests on the National Highway by squatting on the road. Shouting pro-Maharashtra slogans, the Shivsainiks blocked the highway for over an hour after which they were detained and later released.
Meanwhile, Karnataka police which is on high alert, has sealed the checkpoints bordering Maharashtra and Goa. Every vehicle entering from Maharashtra and Goa were checked at Kognoli, Kankumbi and Bachi to check the entry of Shivsainiks.
Belagavi police have beefed up the security in and around the city to keep the situation under control and avoid any possible clashes between Kannada and Marathi groups.
The city has taken a fortified look from Monday evening due to the heavy deployment of police and security personnel.
“3 DCPs, 12 ACPs, 52 inspectors, 2500 police personnel comprising of PSIs, ASIs, and other ranks have been deployed in and around the city. 10 State Reserve Police platoons, 500 home guards will be assisting the police. The city will be under surveillance of 8 drone cameras, 300 CCTVs, 35 video cameras," Police Commissioner Dr M B Borlingiah said.
