Ballari clash: 26 people, four gunmen of Congress MLA arrested

Ballari: The Ballari police on Sunday arrested 26 people in connection with a violent clash that stemmed from a dispute over erecting banners in front of former minister and BJP leader Janardhana Reddy’s residence at Avambhavi in the city on Thursday night.

Based on evidence collected during the investigation, eyewitness accounts and the video footage, the police arrested 26 people, including the Congress and the BJP workers, and produced them before a local court.

So far, six FIRs have been registered in connection with the clash, according to a press release by in-charge Superintendent of Police Ranjithkumar Bandaru.

The arrests were made based on the suo motu case registered by Brucepet police. The arrested are: Karthik, Mukkanna, Inayathulla, Raju, Mustafa, Srikanth, Mohammad Rasool, Babu, Venkatesh, Mabasha, Guruprasad, Vasundhar, Shivakumar, Sachin, Abdul Razak, Bajjaiah, M Thimmappa, Gundali Srinivas, K B Lakshman, P Srinivas Reddy, Pothappa, Shadakshari, Ravibabu, Ravikumar and Rangaswamy. Interestingly, those named in the five FIRs have not been arrested.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested four private gunmen of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. Gurucharan Singh, who is said to have opened fire in the air during the clash, was subjected to intense grilling. Indiscriminate firing of the gunman had allegedly taken the life of Rajashekar Reddy, a Congress worker.

Ballari city is treading back to normalcy. But the reserve police personnel are still deployed at major roads and areas in the city.

Security enhanced

However, the officers from various districts, who were roped in for security, have returned to their places. Security at the residences of BJP leaders Janardhana Reddy, B Sriramulu and Somashekar Reddy has been enhanced.

On the night of January 1, clashes erupted over banner row near Janardhana Reddy’s residence at Avambhavi.

The supporters of the Bellary City MLA, in large numbers, marched to Avambhavi and attempted to erect banners pertaining to the unveiling of Valmiki statue, which was scheduled for January 3.

The clashes took a violent turn with supporters of Bharath Reddy and Janardhana Reddy pelting stones at each other. The private security personnel of the MLA allegedly opened fire in the air, resulting in the death of a Congress worker.