More than 50 people were injured in India's Andhra Pradesh state late on Monday night, as a big crowd enjoyed ritual stick fights which are part of an annual Banni festival.
The event is held in Devaragattu and surrounding villages in Kurnool district. During the festival, people gather in large numbers and take part in stick fights to win ceremonial idols of local deities.
Unfortunate! For the last 1 month, police counselled villagers, imposed Sec 144 & set up checkposts to deter people from participating in the annual stick festival Banni in Deveragattu, #Kurnool. But at least a lakh gathered risking #COVID19. Worse, 50+ injured. #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/339ErqrMnJ
— krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) October 27, 2020
Banni festival/stick fight festival held in Devaragattu of Kurnool, several injured. District authorities have earlier cancelled the event citing #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/uqK051wuVD
— CharanTeja (@CharanT16) October 27, 2020
In view of Covid-19 and the risk of infection, local authorities had banned the event this year. But people took part in the festivities, oblivious to the CCTV cameras and 15 check-points installed to keep people away from the festivities, located on the border with Karnataka state.
Speaking to Sputnik, a senior police officer revealed that devotees went beyond the control of the police and tried to get hold of the icons.
District officials from the Medical and Health Department, deployed in the villages, treated the injured immediately.
Meanwhile, police plan to take action against the accused and have started scanning CCTV footage of the area to identify them.
