Author: Pioneer News Service/Bangalore
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 27, 2001
Violence has erupted in several
places in Karnataka in the last two days following the publication of a
feature in the "Young World" supplement of the Bangalore edition of 'The
Hindu.'
Incidents of stone-pelting have
been reported in Bangalore city, Gulbarga and Raichur following the publication
of the feature by noted cartoonist Keshav in which an incident in the life
of Prophet Mohammed was carried with illustration.
The violence continued even after
'The Hindu' carried a front-page apology on Sunday for the inadvertent
illustrations. The apology stated that Islamic traditions bar picturization
of the Prophet.
In Bangalore, five city transport
buses were damaged in the busy K R Market area on Sunday in incidents of
stone-throwing by members of a minority community protesting against the
feature. Police prevented a mob from setting fire to a bus.
On Saturday, stones were thrown
at shops on Tannery Road in the K G Halli police limits.
In Gulbarga city, over 2,000 people
gathered and set fire to the copies of the newspaper and shouted slogans
against the newspaper on Saturday night. The police acted swiftly and registered
cases against the newspaper for disturbing communal harmony.
The copies of the newspaper were
burnt in Raichur town. The Raichur SP met the leaders of the community
and drew their attention to the apology rendered by the newspaper.In view
of the tension prevailing in several parts of the State, the police have
stepped up security in sensitive areas.
In the past, the offices of 'Deccan
Herald', Karnataka's leading English daily newspaper were attacked by members
of a minority community following the publication of a feature which had
an offending headline. Nearly three dozen people were killed in the violence
which rocked the entire State a decade ago. Mobs were instigated by a leading
politician even after the newspaper had apologised for the offending headline.
