Mangaluru: Tensions erupted at the premises of Maladi Government Higher Primary School in Madanthyar of Belthangady taluk on October 12 when school staff and members of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) engaged with heated arguments over a land issue.

The incident occurred when the school authorities tried to vacate the fences placed by the members of DSS on the school play ground. DSS members had placed fences on last Sunday stating the land being used as school play ground had been registered in 1966 and belongs to the dalits under Depressed Classes (DC) manna land which is meant to be allotted to the backward sections of the society.

During morning hours of October 12, the school authorities and villagers had brought JCB excavator and tried to vacate the fences placed. At the same time, DSS members strongly opposed the move of the school authorities and prevented them from vacating the fences placed.

DSS workers, leaders have reportedly gathered in large number at the premises of the school following the land issue. The local police rushed into the spot soon after the information and have brought Karnataka Reserve Police Force to the location to prevent any unpleasant incident.