30 injured in clashes near Mangalore after Hindu convention Jan 18, 2015 At least 30 people were injured and property worth lakhs destroyed in clashes between Hindus and Muslims near Mangaluru in Karnataka where over 25,000 Hindutva activists converged for a meeting, as leaders of both communities blamed each other on Saturday for the violence. The clashes occurred on Friday night in multiple locations in Belthangady and Puttur talukas when people were returning after attending the Virat Hindu Hridaya Sangama, an event where Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat allegedly delivered inflammatory speeches. Conflicting versions emerged from the violence-hit neighbourhoods about what triggered the clashes in which a mosque was attacked and shops set on fire. “Our activists were returning peacefully from the event when they were ambushed by local Muslims,” Sharan Pumpwell, South Karnat...