GADAG: The situation in Halakeri village in Ron taluk of Gadag district, which witnessed clashes between Dalits and upper caste people on Tuesday, is returning to normality, although there is tension.

The police have made bandobast arrangements and prohibitory order has been clamped in the village till August 11. Deputy Commissioner G.M. Dhananjay and Superintendent of Police K.V. Sridhar are camping in the village.

As many as 101 people belonging to the two communities have been arrested in connection with the clashes.

According to the police, Dalits have filed three complaints at the Naregal Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Halakere village.

Upper caste people have filed two complaints. The police said among the arrested 21 were Dalits and 80 from the upper caste. They had been remanded to judicial custody. According to sources, 28 people, including a woman, were injured in the clashes.

While four of them have been admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital in Hubli, the others are recuperating at the district hospital in Gadag.

Some houses, mainly belonging to Dalits, have been damaged. A motorcycle was set on fire during the clashes. The arrack shop, where a Dalit youth was allegedly beaten up, has also been ransacked.

Although police officials term the situation as peaceful, there is tension in the village as the communities are yet to arrive at an amicable solution.

On Wednesday, Doreswamy Naik, Inspector General of Police, North Zone, visited the village to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, the villagers complained that the police ill-treated the villagers in the name of arresting the accused persons.

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