JOIN US'Hijacked' Bellary GP members create ruckus
The Deputy Commissioner, in pursuance of the directions of Chief Electoral Officer had sent a team to verify the reports that Bellary GP members had been ‘hijacked’ and kept in a resort to ensure the victory of candidates of a particular party in the forthcoming Council polls.
The team headed by Assistant Commissioner Mahantesh Bilagi comprising tahsildars Ravindra Karalingannavar and Biradar amongst others arrived at Mayura resort. They obtained details of the GP members and the purpose of their visit. However, the members raised objection when the officials tried to videograph them. Soon, a verbal duel ensued and some GP members tried to snatch the camera. Some documents were even snatched from the hands of the Assistant Commissioner. Eye witnesses said that the GP members tried to assault the officials.
Upon coming to know of the incident, the DC Darpan Jain rushed to spot and sought additional police forces. However, by the time he arrived, all the GP members had checked out from the resort.
The DC said that 93 people from Bellary had stayed in two resorts located between Hubli and Dharwad and that the checking was resorted to on the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer. All the rooms were booked in the name of two persons - Shivanagouda and Odugoudar. They told that they were on the way to Saunadatti Yellamma temple.
Denying that the officials were attacked, the DC, said it was premature to conclude that all of them were GP members. “There were only heated arguments between those from Bellary and the officials when the latter tried to videograph them,” he clarified.
A detail report will be submitted to the CEO, he added. Meanwhile, sources said that the GP members had been packed off to Goa.
Cong complains
Speaking to media persons in Hubli, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R V Deshpande said the Congress had filed a complaint on the incident in Bellary and has brought the matter to the notice of the Election Commission.
JD(S) leader and former minister S S Patil demanded postponing Council elections in Bellary in the wake of ‘hijacking’ of GP members. Speaking in Haveri, Patil urged the government to ask the DCs to raid all resorts and hotels in Dharwad and Bellary districts to check some unscrupulous politicians’ bid to win the elections through unfair means.