Karnataka - Bellary   

JD(S) protests attack on its workers

BELLARY: The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday took out a rally here in protest against the attack on its workers by the Bharatiya Janata Party, and has demanded the arrest of Minister for Tourism B. Sriramulu, and the suspended BJP MLC G. Janardhan Reddy.

Hundreds of party workers, under the leadership of N. Suryanarayan Reddy, Kurgodu MLA and political secretary to the Chief Minister participated in the rally.

Traffic came to a standstill for over two hours as demonstrators squatted on the busy Gadagi Chennappa circle.

Condemning the attack, Mr. Suryanarayan Reddy accused BJP leaders, especially the Minister, for allegedly converting Bellary into another Bihar.

Janata Dal (S) workers, in a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, sought protection and urged him to take steps to ensure free and fair polls.

They withdrew their dharna when Additional Superintendent of Police D.C. Rajappa said cases had been registered against Mr. Sriramulu and Mr. Janardhan Reddy. He also promised stern action against the guilty.

The BJP held a counter rally later in the day to protest against the allegedly political atrocities committed by the Janata Dal (S) with the help of the police. Workers, led by Bellary MP G. Karunakar Reddy, president of the district unit of the BJP G. Somashekar Reddy, and former vice-president of the zilla panchayat K.A. Ramalingappa staged a dharna at the Gadagi Chennappa circle and submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commissioner and Inspector-General of Police (Eastern Range) Davangere.

The BJP leaders accused the Janata Dal (S) of misusing official machinery in the campaigning for the civic polls with the support of the Chief Minister.

Mr. Karunakar Reddy charged that the entire district police had joined hands with the Janata Dal (S).

He accused leaders of the party of attempting to murder Mr. Sriramulu and Mr. Janardhan Reddy, and added that the police were trying to shield the culprits.

Mr. Karunakar Reddy, fearing electoral malpractices in Bellary, urged the Election Commissioner to immediately take steps to replace Superintendent of Police Amrit Paul.

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