11 Booked, Including Janardhana Reddy and Sriramulu, After Ballari Clash
Ballari: Brucepet Police has registered an FIR against 11 people, including Gangavathi MLA and former minister Janardhana Reddy, his brother Somashekar Reddy and former minister B Sriramulu, in connection with the violence reported in Ballari on Thursday night.
The defendants are charged under multiple headings, including attempted murder, unlawful assembly and rioting.
The complaint was lodged by Chanal Shekhar, a resident of Moka Road in Ballari, around 1 am on January 2. Following the complaint, the police launched an investigation.
According to the FIR, a program to unveil a Valmiki statue near SP Circle was planned by Ballari city MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. The complaint alleges that between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on January 1, banners put up for the inauguration near Siruguppa Road near Janardhana Reddy’s residence were allegedly demolished.
The FIR further states that when the complainant and another person, Satish Reddy, questioned the removal of the banners, the accused and his supporters allegedly got into a fight and attacked the complainant Satish Reddy and the armed Basavaraj. The complaint alleges the attack was carried out with the intent to cause serious harm.
The FIR also stated that police officer Srinivasa, who intervened and tried to calm the incident, was injured during the incident.
A case is under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (causing hurt with intent), 118(1) (causing hurt or grievous hurt by use of dangerous weapons or means), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 190 (offenses committed in prosecution of a common object), 191(2) and 191(3) (rioting), 351(2). It is registered within the scope of (penalty). intimidation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace).
The conflict between supporters of Bharath Reddy and Janardhana Reddy escalated on Thursday night with reports of stone pelting and shooting. A Congress worker named Rajashekhar was killed in the firing. Bharath Reddy and Janardhana Reddy blamed each other for the violence and dismissal incident.
