The Karnataka Police on Saturday arrested 25 legislators of Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh along with many of their supporters on the States’ border near Bellary, for defying ban orders.
These legislators had come to witness mining activities of the Obalapuram Mine Company (OMC) belonging to BJP MLC G Janardhan Reddy.
Precaution
The State police had imposed the prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPC on the inter-State border as a precautionary measure.
Altogether 18 MLAs and seven MLCs, including TDLP Deputy Leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy, were arrested.
A group of TDP legislators had planned to visit the OMC area following charges of illegal mining and also reported damage to Sunkalamma Temple because of mining, and wanted to collect details in this regard.
They reached the mining area via Bellary, fearing police arrest near Rayadurga in Andhra Pradesh.
The police of both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were on high alert and the former stood guard at the main entrance of the mining firm. Additional Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil and Inspectors Ravikumar and Ravindra Shirur were present on the spot. Superintendent of Police Amruth Pal also visited the spot.
Even Andhra Pradesh deployed more than 300 police personnel at the starting point of the mining area situated on the border.
Karnataka Tourism Minister B Sriramulu was present on the spot till evening. Around 3.30 pm, the TDP legislators arrived here and reached OMC around 4.30 pm.
Tension prevailed in the whole area. The Andhra Pradesh police tried to prevent the legislators by using force.
At this juncture, there was a verbalduel between the legislators and the police. Some legislators who tried to enter the mining area were physically removed to the waiting police vehicle.
Earlier, Mr Nagam Reddy told reporters that “OMC is looting iron ore. The Supreme Court had stayed mining activities here as it is a disputed border area. We had come here to study the ground realities”.