Panchamasali protesters' bid to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha foiled

Belagavi: The Belagavi police foiled the attempt by the members of Panchamasali community to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, demanding 2A category for the community. The police detained the protesters, including Panchamasali Peeth seer Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya and released them later.

Sporting a black arm band, the members of the Panchamasali community took out a 'silent' procession from Gandhi Bhavan in the city. They blocked the road for over half-an-hour at the busy Rani Channamma Circle and Sangolli Rayanna Circle.

The police did not allow them to march to Suvarna Soudha by detaining them. When the seer was bundled into a police van, the protesters raised slogans and they got into a verbal duel with the police, resulting in pushing and shoving.

Earlier in the day, Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, addressing the protesters, launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over the police atrocities on the agitating Panchamasalis in front of Suvarna Soudha last year. The day is being observed as the black day for the police action on Panchamasalis.