A Congress worker was thrashed to death in a group clash at Nayanageli in the taluk on Tuesday.
Hanumant Chittaragi, 40, was beaten up when he intervened in a clash between members of the BJP and the Congress, eye-witnesses said. He sustained serious injuries and died while being shifted to a hospital, they said.
Congress workers alleged that the BJP workers “killed” Chittaragi as he was becoming more popular in the area.
When DSP Eswarchandra Vidyasagar visited the hospital, the party workers alleged that the police were working at the behest of BJP members.
The police have taken five main suspects into custody, while two others are at large. Police personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain peace.
Published 28 February 2012, 17:00 IST