Haveri Communal Clash: Police File Counter FIR Against 26 Hindu Youths
Haveri Communal Clash: Police File Counter FIR Against 26 Hindu Youths Reported By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 14:09 IST Violence broke out in Karnataka's
Haveri Communal Clash: Police File Counter FIR Against 26 Hindu Youths Reported By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 14:09 IST Violence broke out in Karnataka's Haveri district after an argument over bursting firecrackers near a mosque escalated into a clash between two groups Rapid Read Police had earlier registered an FIR against 26 people based on a complaint filed by Harish, who alleged that members of the Muslim community assaulted Hindu youths during the incident. A dispute during a village festival in Karnataka’s Haveri district has taken a fresh turn, with police registering a counter FIR against 26 Hindu youths after members of the rival group alleged that they too were assaulted during the communal clash. Violence broke out in Naregal village after an argument over bursting firecrackers near a mosque escalated into a clash between two groups, leaving around eight people injured. Police had earlier registered an FIR against 26 people based on a complaint filed by Harish, who alleged that members of the Muslim community assaulted Hindu youths during the incident.
Now, based on a complaint lodged by Bhashasab Anwarsab Gowndi, police have registered a counter FIR against 26 Hindu youths, alleging that they assaulted members of the other group during the clash. The second FIR names Praveen (A1), Veeraj (A2), Santosh (A3) and 23 others as accused. The case has been registered at Adur Police Station under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 115(3) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to Haveri Superintendent of Police Yashoda Vantagodi, villagers were participating in the festival when a decorated bull reached an area near a mosque. A group of youths allegedly objected to firecrackers being burst near the mosque, leading to an argument between two individuals identified as Khaja and Lohith. The SP said Khaja allegedly assaulted Lohith, after which the confrontation escalated into a clash between the two groups. CCTV footage of the incident has since surfaced. According to the police, Lohith and another individual, Jayappa, who were accompanying the bull procession, were allegedly assaulted first.
After seeing them injured, a group of Hindu youths allegedly retaliated, triggering violence. Hindu youths alleged that members of the Muslim community attacked them with sharp weapons, including billhooks and sticks. Around eight people were injured in the violence. Three were shifted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi for advanced treatment and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with one reported to be in a critical condition. The remaining injured were admitted to a hospital in Haveri. The injured alleged that they had gone to watch the bull-running event when they were attacked without provocation. They claimed that Khajasab Gowndi and his father assaulted them and demanded strict action against those responsible. The incident later assumed political significance after BJP state president BY Vijayendra visited Naregal village, met the injured and accused the Congress government of failing to protect Hindus. Alleging that the police were acting as “puppets of the ruling party", he demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, withdrawal of the counter FIR against the Hindu youths, and warned of a gherao of the police station if action was not taken.
The BriefWire