At least 24 individuals were injured in a violent clash between the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Chikkavaddatti village of Mundargi taluk in Gadag district, Karnataka. The dispute arose over a water-related issue when a youth from the SC community reportedly drank water from a borewell on farmland belonging to an ST community farmer. This minor argument quickly escalated into a large-scale confrontation, resulting in injuries to 24 people, including women from the SC community.
The clash involved the use of sticks, wooden clubs, and stones, causing serious head injuries to three individuals and fractures to hands and legs of several others. The injured were taken to Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital for treatment, with tight security measures in place across three hospital wards. Additionally, nine injured members of the ST community are receiving treatment at Mundargi Government Hospital.
Tension persists in the village post the incident, prompting heavy security deployment to maintain law and order. Gadag Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish visited the scene, attributing the clash to a water-related dispute between the two communities. Authorities suspect underlying enmity may have fueled the violence, with assurances of legal action based on complaints received. Assistant Commissioner Gangappa inspected the incident site and hospitals, ensuring proper medical care for the injured.
