The Hindu : Karnataka News : Ban orders imposed in Chitradurga

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Ban orders imposed in Chitradurga

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHITRADURGA, APRIL 21. Tension prevailed in some parts of Holalkere taluk in Chitradurga district on Tuesday after violent protests against the non-inclusion of names in the voters' list. The District Magistrate has imposed prohibitory orders in Chitradurga district till Friday evening.

Incidents of looting and arson marred the election process in some villages in Holalkere taluk. The police burst teargas shells at Malenahalli village to disperse mobs. As many as 250 villagers, whose names were missing from the voters' list, assembled in front of a polling booth and pleaded with officials to allow them to exercise their franchise. Although they produced their voters' identity cards, the authorities expressed helplessness as their names were not in the list.

Officials were not allowed to come out of the polling stations after the completion of the polling process. G.B. Chebbi, Superintendent of Police reached the spot and tried to intervene.

However, the police had to burst teargas shells to disperse the mob and ensure the safety of officials.

At Edehalli village in Holalkere taluk, workers of a party set fire to two shops and four vehicles. According to an eyewitness account, a mob entered the village with weapons and threatened villagers. They ransacked about 10 houses of followers of another party. The villagers complained that the police had failed to disperse the mob.

Villagers from Chitrahalli and Gollarahatti clashed over granting additional time to complete polling. The process had to be suspended for two hours in one polling booth because of shortage of indelible ink. Mr. Chebbi told The Hindu that Chitradurga town was peaceful. Although there was tension in some parts of Holalkere, the situation was under control, he added.

Party workers clash

Our Tumkur Staff Correspondent reports:

Ban orders were imposed in C.N. Halli town in Tumkur district following post-poll clashes between workers of the Janata Dal (S) and the Janata Dal (U) workers. J. Nanjundesh, Tahsildar, C.N. Halli taluk, told The Hindu on Wednesday evening that the ban orders would be in force in the town limits till April 26. C.B.

JD(S) worker dies

Our Kolar Correspondent reports:

Tension prevailed in G. Bommasandra village in Gowribidanur taluk of Kolar district following the death of a Janata Dal (S) worker who was allegedly beaten up by Congress workers on Tuesday evening. It is learnt that there was an argument between Ramalingappa (23) from the village, who was a booth agent for the Janata Dal (S) candidate, and Congress workers. A clash followed, and four persons, including Ramalingappa, were injured. Ramalingappa, who was shifted to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, died. According to the police, the situation in G. Bommasandra and Gowribidanur was tense but under control.

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