Belgaum border dispute: Section 144 imposed as preventive measure, says SP

Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor

Mumbai: After the police action against Marathi-speaking people in Yellur in Karnataka prompted protests by political parties in Maharashtra, Belgaum Superintendent of Police Dr Chandragupta on Tuesday said that Section 144 has been imposed in the region till tonight. The district SP also said that any further decision will only be taken after having consultations with District Magistrate. Describing Sunday`s police action against Marathi people at Yellur district as an act of "terrorism", Shiv Sena sought the Centre`s intervention in its editorial mouthpiece `Saamana`. The editorial said that if the Karnataka police is indulging in act of terror against the Marathi-speaking people then it becomes the responsibility of the Centre to curb this terrorism. It piece also said that the appeal is being made to the Central government because the ruling party in Maharashtra is incompetent. Police had on Sunday lathicharged a group of pro-Maharashtra supporters who threw stones at them at Yellur after a "Maharashtra Rajya" plaque re-erected by them was removed by the district administration. Pro-Maharashtra supporters had on Saturday re-erected a controversial signboard at Yellur after the previous one was razed to the ground by public works department on Friday following a high court order. (With PTI inputs)