BELLARY, July 15: If they only knew that staging a play, that too an epic like the Ramayana, could lead to a conflict of, well, epic proportions, the residents of Benakallu village may never have attempted it.Halfway through the play, Kurubara Shankara, who was portraying Lakshman and Nayakara Iyyaali, playing Trishulasura, began to take their confrontation a bit too seriously. This was followed by a war of words with the duo going on to shower the choicest abuses on each other. The verbal battle was nearing its crescendo when some senior citizens managed to bring the curtains down. One of them pacified the warring duo and packed them off.Meanwhile, additional superintendent of police Shivanna Tavargi posted assistant sub-Inspector Ramalingappa at the village on Monday to prevent escalation of tension and also camped there himself.On Tuesday morning when he left the village to to ring up senior officers, the curtain rose for the second act. People belonging to the Kuruba and Valmikicommunities began stoning each other resulting in injuries to 13 persons - six Nayakas and seven Kurubas.Additional SP Tavargi said both DSP (Rural Julakatti) and Circle Inspector (Rural) P G Suddi rushed to the village and brought the situation under control. They arrested 50 people - 30 Kurubas and 20 from the Valmiki community. Cases of rioting were booked against both groups.Shivanna said the situation was under control with the DSP (Julakatti) camping in the village. Whether the villagers will now attempt to stage another play remains to be seen.
