GULBARGA: Life in Jewargi town, which witnessed mob violence during the bandh call given on Monday by the Sriram Sena demanding the removal of a dargah near Narayanpur Dam in Surpur taluk, has been limping back to normal, with no untoward incident being reported on Tuesday.

The Jewargi police on Monday night arrested chief of the Karuneshwar Math Sri Siddalinga Swamiji under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and produced him before the Jewargi tahsildar, who is also the taluk magistrate, seeking to get an assurance of good behaviour from him. A case of an inflammatory speech having been made is pending against the seer. The taluk magistrate released the seer — who is also the honorary president of the Sriram Sena — on bail.

The police have also registered a counter-case filed by the seer against those who had allegedly damaged his car and tried to attack him when he was staying at the Government Guest House in Jewargi during the bandh. However, the police have not arrested anyone apart from the seer in connection with the violence in which two autorickshaws were damaged along with his car.

Life returned to normal in Jewargi town on Tuesday, and all shops and business establishments have reopened. No untoward incident has been reported so far. The police have stepped up security in the town and have posted armed constables in all the sensitive areas.

During the bandh call given by the Sriram Sena, trouble erupted when its supporters tried to enforce the bandh in an area dominated by traders from a minority community. Later, a violent mob indulged in indiscriminate stone-throwing.

Blame

The Gulbarga units of the Souharda Karnataka and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday blamed the seer for the violence.

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