Gadag (Karnataka), March 24 – At least 24 people were injured in a violent clash between members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the village of Chikkavaddatti, located in the Mundargi taluk of Gadag district, following a dispute over a water-related issue, police said on Tuesday.
The situation is currently under control, and the district administration is planning to hold a peace meeting.
Police, under the supervision of senior officers, are continuing to closely monitor the village to prevent any further incidents.
According to officials, the incident began after a young man from the Scheduled Caste community reportedly drank water from a borehole located on farmland owned by an ST community farmer. What started as a minor argument quickly escalated into a large-scale confrontation, with members of both communities gathering in groups and attacking each other.
During the clash, people used sticks, wooden clubs, and stones, resulting in multiple injuries. A total of 24 people, including women from the SC community, were injured in the violence. Three individuals sustained serious head injuries, while several others suffered fractures to their hands and legs. Others received minor injuries.
The injured were taken to the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Police have deployed tight security across three wards of the hospital due to the situation. Meanwhile, nine members of the ST community who were also injured are being treated at the Mundargi Government Hospital.
Police said that tension prevailed in the village following the incident, with heavy deployment to maintain law and order. Gadag Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish visited the site and conducted an inspection. He stated that the clash occurred between two communities over a water-related issue and assured that action would be taken as per the law based on complaints received.
Authorities suspect that past animosity between the groups may have also contributed to the violence. Assistant Commissioner Gangappa visited both the incident site and the hospitals, enquired about the condition of the injured, and instructed officials to ensure proper medical care.
