The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebration became a somber one Thursday evening when unknown miscreants reportedly lobbed stones at the grand procession when it was passing by the Panka Masjid (Mosque) in the Killa area. Witnesses reportedly told reporters that the rally was advancing peacefully to Basaveshwara Circle when circumstances escalated.
Stones were thrown from the vicinity of the mosque, leaving panic among the participants. One of the stones hit Bagalkot Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Goyal, who was personally overseeing the security officers in the crowd. The first reports suggested he had a head injury, the SP said, but later reported he had slight injury to the shoulder and neck.
Police Action and Arson
In order to prevent the situation from turning into a full-scale communal confrontation, the police fired off a light lathi-charge to disperse the residents of the congregation. While police were quickly called, in the aftermath of the first incident, miscreants were said to set fire to three vegetable pushcarts at the local market location.
According to SP Siddharth Goyal, the stones are directed primarily at the police officers and not at the general public, as reported early Thursday night by the media. CCTV and drone video data are being reviewed in search of the perpetrators. This does not appear to be a premeditated move, but we will do everything we can to punish those who interrupted the peace.
Prohibitory Orders and Security Measures
In the spirit of the conflict, the Bagalkot District Administration has introduced the provisions of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) (that was previously Section 144) at Old Bagalkot, Navanagar and Vidyagiri. The orders are in force until midnight on February 24, 2026. Under these restrictions:
- The gatherings of four or more individuals are prohibited.
- You cannot carry weapons or anything that could be used for violence.
- Any protests and public meetings are not permitted if the police do not authorize it before.
Heavy police deployment continues on Friday morning in the old town with Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons installed at strategic intersections as needed to ensure everyday business transactions and normal Friday prayers are not interrupted.
