BSR Congress leader B Sriramulu, MP J Shantha, MLC Mrutyunjaya Jinaga and several others were detained by the police here on Saturday morning. They were released later.

The leaders were protesting against the sudden eviction of roadside vendors in the City.

Members of the BSR Congress had been staging a dharna in front of the Bellary Municipal Corporation office since Friday morning, opposing the police action. They continued the dharna through the night, blocking the road, along with the vendors and their family members, at the Gadigi Chennappa Circle.

As the road blockade disrupted vehicular traffic, police resorted to mild caning to disperse the crowd. Shantha and other women protesters too were detained.

When the police tried to detain Sriramulu, Palike member Govindarajulu, former Palike member Toorfu Yellappa, former mayor Ibrahim Babu, Dr S J V Mahipal and others, Sriramulu’s supporters scuffled with the cops. In the melee, Sriramulu’s shirt was torn.
Speaking to mediapersons in the evening, the BSR Congress leader said a complaint would be filed against Deputy Commissioner A A Biswas in the district court.

“Biswas has been inflicting atrocities on the poor vendors in the name of eviction. As per the National Urban Traders’ Policy - 2012, roadside vendors should not be evicted without prior notice. It is unjust to evict them without making alternative arrangements. Also, it is wrong on the part of the police to arrest the protesters without talking to them,” Sriramulu said.