Uneasy calm in riot-hit Mysore

Mysore, July 3 : A day after three people were killed in communal clashes in Mysore, the Karnataka town remained tense but calm Friday with many shops and educational institutions closed.

"The situation is peaceful. No untoward incident has been reported since Thursday evening. Two RAF (Rapid Action Force) companies comprising 150 personnel each have been stationed in the localities that witnessed violence," Mysore Deputy Commissioner of Police P. Mannivannan told IANS.

The RAF, which was summoned from Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, staged a flag-march along with the state's reserved police force in the Udayagiri suburb that witnessed communal clashes Thursday.

"As a precaution, we have ordered closure of schools and colleges in the suburbs of Kyatamaranahalli, Mandi, Udayagiri and Narasima Raja Colony. Assembling of five or more persons will continue to be banned Sunday under section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code)," he added.

Shops and business establishments also continued to remain shut in the Udayagiri suburb as an uneasy calm prevailed in other areas of the city, about 140 km from Bangalore.

Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, died Thursday in clashes in Udayagiri suburb after the carcass of a piglet was found in a mosque built on a disputed site.

"We held meetings with the peace committees set up to restore confidence in the people. The committee members have assured us they will maintain communal harmony and peace," Mannivannan said.

"The construction issue of the mosque in the area comes under the jurisdiction of the civic corporation and not under me. I have ordered an inquiry to ascertain the facts about the disputed site," he clarified.

--IANS