Madikeri : The Karnataka Police lathicharged Hindutva activists protesting against Tipu Jayanti celebrations after they pelted stones and set buses on fire in Madekeri on Tuesday, reports said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Kuttappa was killed, while over 30 supporters were injured in the lathicharge.

The 50-year-old, who was the VHP Kodagu secretary, was critically injured following clashes with the police and died at the local hopital, as per reports.

The government has sent extra forces to high tension areas, Home Minister G Parameshwara told. 

The saffron outfits are against the celebration of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary organised by the state government, claiming that he was an anti-Hindu ruler.

The Karnataka wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier said it would boycott the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan.

Over 20 shops and an equal number of houses were also attacked and looted after the incident, police sources added.