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The town of Nagamangala in Mandya district, Karnataka, is slowly returning to normalcy following a communal flare-up during a Ganesha idol immersion procession on Tuesday. The district administration, after a peace meeting between the two communities on Saturday, has decided to resume the immersion of Ganesha idols from Sunday. The incident, which saw violence erupt during the procession, has left the town deeply scarred, with businesses closed and residents fearing for their safety. While some shops opened on Saturday, several men fled the town fearing arrest, and many families have taken shelter elsewhere.
The violence, which resulted in the destruction of property and the loss of livelihoods, has left a deep sense of unease among the community. The district in-charge Minister, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, appealed to those who fled to return without fear. He also promised an investigation into the incident, including the possibility of handing over the investigation to another agency to determine if the violence was premeditated. The Minister further stated that the government would provide financial assistance to those who suffered property losses.
The district administration, in an effort to maintain peace, has decided to resume the immersion of idols on Sunday, with a break on Monday for Id Milad. Prohibitory orders, however, will remain in place until Monday. The police, who have arrested 55 individuals in connection with the violence, have filed 23 FIRs. They have also refuted reports that petrol bombs were used and that swords were brandished, citing CCTV footage as evidence. However, they acknowledged a failure to assess the situation on the night of the violence despite a coordination meeting between the two communities held on August 31st.
The peace meeting on Saturday brought together members of both communities to achieve communal harmony. The Minister, while emphasizing the importance of coordination during festivities, also stated that the government would address complaints of innocent arrests by dropping charges if found to be true. Despite the ongoing efforts to restore peace and rebuild trust, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of communal harmony and the need for constant vigilance to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Source: Peace meeting held in Nagamangala; immersion of Ganesha idols to resume on Sunday