The Hubballi Police have arrested 20 people belonging to two groups in connection with a gang war near Aralikatti Oni on Mantur Road in Hubballi on Wednesday.

The police, however, have termed it a group clash and not a gang war.

Addressing presspersons at the Town Police Station in Hubballi on Thursday, Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar said that the clash occurred between members of the rival groups during the funeral of Suresh Sangannavar of Gangadhar Nagar on Wednesday.

The Police Commissioner said that members of the rival groups clashed after the funeral and police personnel who rushed to the spot to control the situation were also attacked. A complaint and counter complaint have been registered at the Town Police Station, he said.

Mr. Shashikumar gave the names of the arrested as Ganesh Jadhav, Subhash alias Shubham Bijawad, Pavan Indaragi, Vinayak Dhondi, Manjunath alias Goutam Gaikwad, Ashwath Madiwalar, Raghavendra Bhajantri, Vishal Karigar, Manjunath Gaikwad, Rajesh Koravar, Shekhar Yarkal, Zakir Hussein Shekh, Narottam Singh Baroria, Kumar Bijapur, Muzeed Bepari, Mohammed Pahad Mithaigar, Isaq Bepari, Mehaboob Mulla, Sunny alias Machya and Murad Bepari.

Barring two accused who are aged about 40, all the remaining arrested people are in the age group of 18 to 25, he said. A majority among the arrested are residents of Settlement Locality, Aralikatti Oni and Mantur Road.

Among the arrested, there are five history sheeters and three in the MOB watchlist. As a precautionary measure, history sheeters are being externed from the district, he said.

The Police Commissioner also said that it was not a case of gang war or pre-planned attack. “It was a group clash over individual rivalry. Investigation is on. CCTV footage revealed that one person is running around holding a lethal weapon and a manhunt has been launched to arrest him,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mahaning Nandagavi and Assistant Commissioner of Police Umesh Chikkamath were present.