Karnataka   

Supporters of Sirwal go on rampage over denial of ticket

Venting their ire: Supporters of Shivashekarappa Patil Sirwal protesting in Shahapur on Wednesday.

SHAHAPUR: Supporters of three-time MLA Shivashekarappa Patil Sirwal on Wednesday reacted violently to the denial of the Congress ticket to their leader and the party preferring a “new entrant”, the former Minister Sharanabasappa Dharshanapur.

They set on fire two buses belonging to the North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and threw stones at two other buses, shops and business establishments in Shahapur town.

Tension prevailed in the town since morning after reports about the denial of the ticket to Mr. Sirwal appeared in newspapers. Supporters of Mr. Sirwal took to the streets and staged “rasta roko” at Basaveshwar Chowk and other localities and enforced a bandh in the town.

They spread out in groups and threw stones at shops and business establishments. Some of them threw stones at two NEKRTC buses near the chowk after asking the passenger to alight.

Meanwhile, another group of Mr. Sirwal’s supporters entered the Shahapur bus stand and set on fire two NEKRTC buses after damaging the windowpanes. However, the fire was doused immediately by the Fire and Emergency Services personnel.

The police had a tough time in bringing the situation under control. They resorted to lathi-charge at different places in the town to chase away the mobs. Several private vehicles were also damaged in stone-throwing.

Additional Superintendent of Police B. Mahantesh is camping in the town. Additional police forces from neighbouring districts have been rushed to Shahapur to strengthen the security. One platoon of Karnataka State Reserve Police has also been deployed in the town.

The police have picked up 30 persons in connection with the incidents.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sirwal has convened a meeting of his supporters in the town on Thursday to take stock of the situation and chalk out his course of action.

A source close to Mr. Sirwal and party MLC Amatappa Kandakur has said that the feelings of the party workers in Shahapur has been conveyed to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge who has reportedly asked them to wait till Friday before taking any decision.

Meanwhile, G. Ramakrishna, who has been denied the Congress ticket from Gulbarga Rural Assembly constituency, and the former Minister Vaijnath Patil, who has been denied the ticket from Gulabrga South constituency, are reportedly looking for alternatives to voice their protest against rejecting their claims for ticket.

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