On February 20, Superintendent of Police Siddarth Goel was inspecting the old city area in Bagalkot which has witnessed incidents of stone pelting. Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Tension reigned in Bagalkot New Town after two rounds of stone pelting on the night of February 19 and the morning of February 20. Strict police security measures have been taken in the city and the situation is under control.
According to the police, the first stone pelting took place when the Shivaji Jayanti procession was moving through the old city at night. The second round was when stones were thrown at meat shops in the Killa Oni area on the morning of February 20. A vegetable seller complained to the police that she suffered losses when miscreants set fire to her cart.
No member of the general public or any organization was injured in the stone pelting in Bagalkot on February 19 night, the Bagalkot police clarified on February 20.
Two stones that were thrown hit Superintendent of Police Siddarth Goel and another policeman on the night of February 19, police said.
“However, we had only minor scratches and no major injuries. We both continued to serve till the end of the Shivaji Jayanti procession,” Goel told reporters.
He dismissed as baseless some reports that communal forces had conspired to throw stones at the procession or that some persons were moving around with sticks to provoke violence.
He said the incident was not related to the night Ramzan prayers organized at a nearby mosque.
“I think the stones were thrown by one or two miscreants. We have enough clues, including CCTV footage. Our police officers are investigating the matter and we are sure to trace and arrest the accused within hours,” he said. Police have detained several people for questioning, although one person appears to have been involved in the incident, the Superintendent of Police said.
Chetan Singh Rathore, Inspector General of Police, Northern Range, visited the site and spoke to some of the residents. He is camping in Bagalkot.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 21:02 IST