Tipu Sultan row: Dakshina Kannada district returning to normalcy

MANGALURU: The situation in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka is limping back to normalcy after the incidents of violence in the last few days, as Hindu outfits came out heavily against the state government's decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of the 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 clamped in the city was lifted yesterday. However, no public meeting, protest march, bandh and road blocks will be allowed till November 20, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said.

Two companies of Rapid Action Force had arrived in the city to assist the police to maintain law and order. They have been deployed at sensitive areas like Ullal, B C Road, Kotepura, Kodi and other places from where stray incidents of violence were reported.

India Reserve Battalion personnel had also been posted at various locations, he said, and requested the public to help maintain peace and report suspicious movements of strangers to police.

Vehicles coming to the city were being checked at every point, police said.

Incidents of violence had erupted in Dakshina Kannada district with a man being stabbed on Friday last. A day earlier, another man had died and his friend was injured in stabbing incidents, but police had denied any link to the raging Tipu controversy.

The incidents had occurred in Dakshina Kannada district after Madikeri was rocked by violence over "Tipu Jayanti" celebrations during which 60-year-old VHP activist Kuttappa died on November 10. A youth, who had received bullet wounds during the violence, had also died.