Three persons were killed in Mysore in Karnataka in a communal clash triggered off by the desecration of a mosque on July 2. The three, including 14-year old Zubair, died of stab wounds following a clash in the Udayagiri suburb of Mysore. Tensions erupted over the desecration of the Alima mosque in the Kyathamaranahalli locality when worshippers reportedly found the carcass of a swine on the premises. The police carried out cane charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the clashing mobs. Rapid Action Force on July 3 staged a flag march in violence-hit areas as three more persons were stabbed in the continuing communal clashes.
The outbreak of communal violence – the second in the last three months in the city – has jolted the Muslim leaders who vouch by the tradition of peaceful co-existence and amity. Calling for a healing touch and introspection among different sections of society, the leaders suggested initiatives to bridge the gulf among different groups. The initiatives include more people-to-people contact and greater interaction among leaders to prevent recurrence of such incidents. They suggested forming a coordination committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner. They also drew the attention of the police towards the presence of liquor shops in and around Kyatamaranahalli, Ghousia Nagar and Shanti Nagar in Udayagiri police station limits, and sought cancellation of licences of these liquor shops which have become a den for anti-social elements.