Clash over freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue in Karnataka

A clash erupted between two groups over the installation of 19th century freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue at Peeranwadi village in Karnataka's Belagavi district, police said on Friday. "The two groups were caned and dispersed from the spot where Rayanna's statue was installed and unveiled in the wee hours after they clashed over its location at the T-junction road of the village in the border district," Belagavi Police Superintendent Laxman Nimbargi told reporters here. Belagavi is about 500 km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state. "As Rayanna's statue was installed at the junction where the Marathis wanted to have the 17th century Maratha king Chatrapathi Shivaji's statue, the latter protested against the locals (Kannadigas) for unveiling the former's statue," said Nimbargi. As a revolutionary warrior, Rayanna (1798-1831) fought against the British East India Company in the Kittur princely state ruled by Rani Chennamma. "When the locals were celebrating the event and hailing Rayanna, the Marathi-speaking people objected to it, leading to a clash between them," said Nimbargi. (IANS)

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