Normalcy has returned to Shimoga and Hassan towns, hit by violence during protests by Muslims over publication of an article in a daily purportedly written by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told the Karnataka assembly on Tuesday.
"Those who take
the law into their hands will be strictly dealt with," he said, adding that no untoward incident has taken place in the two cities since last night.
Yeddyurappa said cases have been booked against the daily and 103 people taken into custody in the two cities, where 33 people and 25 policemen were injured in the violence in which 74 shops and 50 vehicles were damaged.
As the House met, Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah and JD-S leader H D Revanna asked the government to give compensation to those hit by the violence.
Two persons were killed, including one in police firing in Shimoga, Yeddyurappa's home town, during the protest against Kannada translation of an article purportedly penned by Taslima, published in a Kannada daily in its Sunday edition. Hassan was also affected by the violence yesterday.
Yeddyurappa said steps would be taken to give compensation to the affected, based on a fact-finding report on assessment of loss of property.
He said a company of CRPF has been deployed in Shimoga and another was on its way to Hassan.
He blamed "selfish elements" for the violence, saying otherwise it would not have taken place on such a large-scale.