No one was injured in stone-pelting in Bagalkot during Shivaji Jayanti procession, says Superintendent of Police

Bagalkot police state that no serious injuries from stone-pelting during Shivaji Jayanti procession; two officers sustained minor scratches.

No one was injured in the stone-pelting in Bagalkot, in north Karnataka, on February 19 night, Bagalkot police clarified on February 20.

The two stones that were thrown on February 19 night hit Superintendent of Police Siddarth Goel and another police officer, police said.

“However, we suffered minor scratches and no major injury. Both of us continued our work till the end of the Shivaji Jayanti procession,” Mr. Goel told reporters.

He dismissed reports that some communal elements had conspired to throw stones at the procession, or that some persons were moving around with rods, to provoke violence.

To a query, he said the incident was unrelated to the late night Ramzan prayers organised in the nearby mosque.

“I think the stones were thrown by one or two miscreants. We have enough clues, including CCTV camera footage. Our officers are investigating the matter. We are certain of tracing and arresting the accused in a few hours,” he said.