Clash over water in rural Gadag leaves 24 injured

Gadag: A clash over drinking water between two communities in Chikkavaddatti village of Mundargi taluk left 23 people from the SC community and 9 from the ST community injured and led to the arrest of 21 people from both communities, according to police. The incident occurred on Monday after a dispute over a youth from the SC community drinking water on land belonging to an ST community member.The dispute escalated into a fight with sickles, sticks, and stones. Complaints and counter-complaints were filed by both communities, according to Gadag SP Rohan Jagadish. A total of 24 people, including women from the SC community, were injured in the clash. Three sustained serious head injuries, several suffered broken arms and legs, and four or five people sustained minor injuries.The injured complained to the tahsildar, alleging an assault with sickles, sticks, and stones, and accused the other side of a planned attack. The fight was also linked to old enmity. At Gadag GIMS Hospital, 24 injured individuals from the SC community received treatment. Injured people were in distress at the hospital, and police protection was provided in the ward for the injured.A total of 9 people from the ST community were injured and received treatment at Mundargi govt hospital. The AC visited the hospital early in the morning to inquire about the health of the injured. AC Gangappa visited Gadag GIMS Hospital to check on the injured and received information from doctors about their condition.In a statement, AC Gangappa said 24 people from the SC community were admitted to hospital and that food and snacks were arranged by the district administration. "The situation is currently calm, and the focus is on treatment first. A peace meeting would later be held with people from both communities," he added."Over 30 police officers, including two CPIs, three PSIs, and one DR squad, were deployed under the leadership of Naragund DYSP Prabhugowda," informed Gadag SP Rohan Jagadish.