Date:02/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110252650300.htm

Karnataka

Tension defused in Davangere

Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE: Tension prevailed in Ellammanagar in Davangere city on Thursday when people belonging to a community came to worship at the spot where the district administration had denied permission for building a place of worship.

Arguments between the police and the people who had gathered there continued for several hours.

At one stage, those who had come to worship staged a dharna and raised slogans against the Deputy Commissioner.

Finally, police succeeded in dispersing the crowd with the help of the Rapid Action Force.

Water jet vehicles were brought to the spot.

Tahsildar of Davangere Revanasiddaiah told The Hindu that based on the report of the police, Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code had been imposed in the area for four days. A few people from the community had applied for permission to build a place of worship on a vacant site on 12th Main, Ellammanagar, some time back.

Following objections from a large number of people in the locality, the Deputy Commissioner, who was then the Administrator of the City Corporation, rejected the application.

He issued a written order in this regard a few days ago.