Situation in Belgaum peaceful, says CM

Situation in the border district of Belgaum which witnessed violence over removal of a pro-Maharashtra sign board at Yellur village was peaceful and under control today, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.
"The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and the situation there now is peaceful," he told reporters here.
Siddaramaiah said the government had taken action to remove the signboard on the basis of a high court order and it would not allow anyone to take law into their own hands.
Police had resorted to lathicharge yesterday to disperse pro-Maharashtra supporters who pelted stones at them, protesting removal of the re-erected sign board at the village in the district, claiming it to be part of the neighbouring state.

"No untoward incidents have been reported anywhere in Belgaum taluk since Sunday night. Additional police have been deployed to maintain law and order," Belgaum Superintendent of Police Chandragupta told PTI in Belgaum.
He said 25 persons, including 18 constables, were injured in stone pelting and lathicharge yesterday.

The district administration had on Saturday removed "Maharashtra Rajya" plaque at Yellur that was re-erected by the pro-Maharashtra supporters, after the previous one was razed to ground by the Public Works Department on Friday.
The PWD had taken action based on a high court direction.
The issue figured in the Karnataka Legislative Council, where BJP leader K S Eshwarappa sought to move an adjournment motion on the "atrocities" on Kannada-speaking people and flayed Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi, an outfit of Marathi speaking people supporting merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra, for it.

He said though the Mahajan Commission report on the boundary dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra had clearly stated that Belgaum was part of Karnataka, MES workers rake up the issue often.
Eshwarappa also attacked the government for its "failure" to maintain law and order in Belgaum, leading to the ruling and opposition members trading charges, causing adjournment of the House for some time.