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NEW DELHI: A 50-year-old activist of the right wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad who was injured in clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups died in a Madikeri hospital on Tuesday, The Indian Express reported..
The activist was protesting the celebration of the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century Mysore ruler, in the Madikeri, Karnataka.
The activist identified as Kutapppa, 50, suffered head injuries during stone throwing when the pro-Tipu Sultan group and Hindutva activists clashed at the Thimmaiah circle in the center of Madikeri town on Tuesday morning.
The clashes erupted after a Muslim group that was taking out a procession to mark the Karnataka government’s Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebration through Madikeri town came face to face with Hindutva activists protesting against the celebration of the birth anniversary in the middle of the town.
The clashes went out of control as those protesting on both sides of the communal divide outnumbered the police presence on the ground. Police later resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the groups to bring the situation under control.
The decision by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi on Nov. 10 has been marked by warnings of protests by Hindutva groups led by the BJP and the RSS. While the state government is facilitating the organization of processions and public meetings to mark the occasion the BJP and RSS have warned of disruption of these meetings. While Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has described Tipu Sultan as an early freedom fighter who fought the British and governed the Mysore region in a secular manner.