Tension grips Maddur after right-wing outfits protest over pelting of stones during Ganesha procession

Even as the police took a total of 21 persons into custody in connection with the stone-pelting incident during Ganesh idol immersion procession in Maddur on Sunday (September 7, 2025) night, tension prevailed in the town on Monday (September 8, 2025) when a large crowd turned up for a protest march in response to a call by Sangh Parivar outfits.

Hundreds of activists from BJP, its frontal organizations as well as JD(S) joined the march that went through the main thoroughfares of Maddur, shouting slogans against the State government, despite the police announcing prohibitory orders in the town on Monday in the wake of the trouble that erupted the previous night.

The protestors submitted a memorandum to the authorities at the Taluk Office seeking the arrest of the miscreants who pelted stones at the Ganesha procession.

Protestors lathi-charged

The protest march was also marred by an exchange of words between the police and protestors, forcing the security personnel to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

Earlier in the day, Sangh Parivar organisations called for a bandh to condemn the stone-pelting incident and a large number of shops and business establishments in the town remained closed.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that at least eight persons had suffered injuries in the stone pelting incident. However, Superintendent of Mandya district police Mallikarjun Baladandi said all the injured persons had been discharged from the hospital after medical treatment.

Hundreds of activists from BJP as well as JD(S) joined the march called by the Sangh Parivar outfits, shouting slogans against the State government on September 8, 2025.
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21 persons arrested

Mr. Baladandi said a total of 21 persons had been into custody by the police in connection with the stone throwing incident. About five to six more persons, who were reportedly involved in the trouble, had been identified and efforts were on to arrest them as well, he added.

He said that additional police personnel, including six platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), had been deployed in the town and the situation had been brought under control. Prohibitory orders will remain in force till September 9 morning and a decision on extending the ban orders will be taken after reviewing the situation.

Why did clashes erupt

According to police, trouble began when the Ganesha procession, which had been taken out from the Tamil colony in Maddur, was passing through Ram Rahim Nagar in the town. As the procession crossed a mosque in the area, stones were reportedly pelted on the persons dancing in the procession, sparking an immediate retaliation.

However, the police personnel accompanying the procession prevented a confrontation between the members of two communities and managed to disperse them. But after immersion of the idol, groups began gathering in the town, demanding justice.

The protest march was marred by an exchange of words between the police and protestors, forcing the security personnel to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.  
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Special arrangement

Mr. Baladandi said the police had registered two cases relating to the incident. One case had been taken up suo motu by the police while another FIR had been lodged by a victim of stone throwing, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Kumar, who also reached Maddur, assured the protestors that the administration will not spare the guilty. “The guilty will not be spared. We will take stern action against them,” he said.

State President of JD(S) Youth Wing Nikhil Kumaraswamy, former MLAs D.C. Thammanna and Annadani, besides former MP Pratap Simha also joined the protestors in Maddur.