Karnataka Police remove cut-out showing Shivaji killing Afsal Khan

Davangere/Karnataka: Following tensions, Karnataka Police removed a cut-out depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji killing Mughal commander Afzal Khan here on Friday. The police cited law and order concerns for removing the cut-out against Hindutva groups who installed it as part of Ganesha festival celebrations.

The tensions started after a community strongly objected to the cut-out, which led to arguments between them and the installers of the cut-out on Thursday night.

Following the brawl, the jurisdictional RMC Yard police arrived and attempted to remove the installation, but Hindutva workers opposed it. After this, the police issued an ultimatum that the cut-out must be removed by 10:30 am on Friday, or legal action will be initiated against the installers.

But, Hindu activists convened a meeting and decided to demand that the police remove the cut-out; if they have to remove the cut-out, police should remove all cut-outs of Mysuru’s erstwhile rulers, Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali, erected across the district, Siasat reported.

But it is learned that the Hindutva group itself removed the cut-out on Friday, easing tensions in the area. Instead, a fresh poster of Chhatrapati Shivaji alone has been placed.

It is to be noted that last year, during the Ganesha festival, there were incidents of stone pelting and related violent incidents in the locality.

Meanwhile, as part of the celebrations, Hindutva groups have erected a cut-out of V D Savarkar.

As per historical records, Chhatrapati Shivaji expanded his Konkan territory, upsetting the Bijapur Sulthanate in the 1650s and in 1659, Adil Shah II appointed Afzal Khan to defeat Shivaji. Afsal Khan tried to ambush and murder Shivaji under the guise of having discussions at a meeting, but Shivaji, expecting deceit, attacked Khan using a “tiger claw”, murdering Khan.