Sirsi: After Uttar-Kannada district's coastal towns Honnavar and Kumta witnessed violence, now Sirsi too has fallen prey to communal tension after protests from BJP leaders and Sangh Parivar organizations turned violent and right wing activists started pelting stones on police personnel.

A bandh was called in Sirsi on Tuesday by right-wing activists to hold a protest in connection with the disappearance and later death of Honnavar Youth Paresh Mesta. However, the protest turned ugly as the stone pelting by the right wing activists resulted in journalists getting severely injured.

The police resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the attackers. In stone pelting, more than six vehicles have been reportedly damaged.

The police have arrested several right-wingers including BJP MLA Vishveshwarayya Hegde Kageri in Sirsi on charges of taking out a protest rally even after section 144 was clamped.

The DC has ordered that no public meetings or functions will be held in the district for three days from 12th to 14th December, as a precautionary measure in view of the clashes in the district.