Attack on mine owners: CM directs police to take action

"I was chairing the cabinet meeting. I am yet to get details about the incident. Law will take its own course. Will ask police to initiate action against those involved," Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

Tappal Ganesh and two of his brothers, on whose plea the Supreme Court recently stayed mining operations of a company owned by the Reddy brothers in Andhra Pradesh, were attacked this morning by an eight-member gang when they were waiting outside a hotel to meet the apex court-appointed Survey of India team.

The court had set up team to determine whether reserved forest areas have been encroached by Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by state Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy.

Yeddyurappa dismissed a suggestion that there was no law and order in Bellary, remarking "I don't think so. I have visited it several times".

Karunakara Reddy, who was present in the cabinet meeting along with his brother Janardhana Reddy, rejected accusations against them that they were behind the attack.
"Such charges were being hurled against us since four years. We are not involved in the attack," he told PTI here.

"Let there be a survey of the mining areas from an international body. We are not afraid of it. The on-going survey by the Supreme Court-appointed Survey of India team is going on smoothly," he said.