Police tighten vigil in Belagavi amid ban on Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti event

Winter Session of Karnataka legislature begins in Belagavi today; MES and Shiva Sena activists and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike leader detained in separate incidents

Belagavi: Despite the Belagavi administration not permitting the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to hold its ‘Maha Melava’ (convention) as a counter to the Winter Session of the Karnataka legislature being held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in the border district, leaders of the pro-Maharashtra outfit announced that they were going ahead with their event on Monday.

The city police have made elaborate security arrangements at Vaccine Depot at Tilakwadi, Sambhaji Circle and Sambhaji Garden to prevent MES leaders and activists from assembling at the venues.

The police personnel  checking vehicles coming from Maharashtra into Karnataka at the check-post at Kognoli in Nippani taluk of Belagavi district on Monday.

The district police have ensured that leaders of the Shiv Sena from Kolhapur do not enter the State and are maintaining a vigil at the check-post at Kognoli in Nippani taluk on the Maharashtra border.

Activists of the MES and the Shiva Sena who were on their way from Khanapur towards Belagavi were detained by the police.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike leader Suresh Gavannavar, who had come near the Vaccine Depot to oppose the Maha Melava, was detained by the police on Monday.

Gavannavar raised slogans against the MES and their "anti-Karnataka" stand.