Four Hindus were stabbed and many others were injured in the violence that erupted in the Kerur Taluka of the Bagalkot district in Karnataka on 6th July 2022 after Hindus tried to lodge a complaint against a woman doctor over her Facebook post against former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her remarks on Prophet Muhammad. However, Karnataka’s chief minister Basavraj Bommai has said that the incident happened due to personal issues.
Clashes between two groups reported in #Kerur, #Badami Taluk of #Bagalkote district of #Karnataka. Four persons have sustained stab injuries belonging to both communities including leader of a #Hindutva group. Probe is on to ascertain the reason for violence.#HRV #ArunKattimani pic.twitter.com/lAxxJcKF86
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) July 6, 2022
According to a report by Free Press Journal, Lakshman Kattimani, Arun Kattimani, and Yamanur Chungin, all residents of Kerur town were stabbed in this incident. Another one named Bande Gokak survived a head injury. All of them are admitted to the hospital. All the injured are members of a local Hindu organization.
As the two groups battled, some of them set fire to many stores, two-wheelers, and fruit and vegetable stalls. The incident took place when one of the victims reportedly attempted to file a complaint against a female doctor for her Facebook post criticizing former BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma’s comments.
Deputy Commissioner Sunil Kumar said, “The CrPC Section 144 will be clamped for two days beginning from midnight of July 6. Schools and colleges have been ordered to be closed in Kerur town on Thursday. The situation is under control and police are probing the incident.”
Karnataka | Three people injured in Kerur after an alleged argument between 2 groups belonging to 2 different communities led to violence in Bagalkot last evening
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2022
The incident involved Hindu Jagarana Vedike. Sec 144 imposed in Kerur till 8am on July* 8: P Sunilkumar, Bagalkot DC pic.twitter.com/Wv02bz58Bk
The police have arrested 10 people in this case so far. Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai said, “Kerur incident happened due to personal issues. Police have already controlled the situation & some arrests are done; injured are admitted to hospitals. We’ve given instructions to both communities to maintain peace. Our senior officials, DC are present on the spot.” The police are doing further investigations.
Kerur incident happened due to personal issues. Police have already controlled the situation & some arrests are done; injured admitted to hospitals. We’ve given instructions to both communities to maintain peace. Our senior officials, DC present on the spot: Karnataka CM Bommai pic.twitter.com/p3R2wapC5u
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2022
Over the last few weeks, there have been repeated incidents of violence in the country in connection with former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s allegedly insulting remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. In Udaipur, a Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded by Islamists on June 28 for a social media post supporting Nupur Sharma. In a similar incident that took place in Amravati, a Hindu chemist Umesh Kolhe was beheaded by Islamists for supporting Nupur Sharma in one of her social media posts.
