Karnataka   

JD(S) worker killed in clash in Harihar

DAVANGERE: Vijayakumar Kondajji, a Janata Dal (Secular) worker, was killed in Harihar on Thursday evening in an election-related incident.

There was an altercation between Mr. Kondajji’s wife Honnamma, a polling agent in a booth in Harihar, and a few Bharatiya Janata Party workers before the end of polling. The BJP workers allegedly abused Ms. Honnamma for supporting the Congress candidate. On learning about the incident, Mr. Kondajji rushed to the polling booth and had an argument with the BJP workers. There was a verbal clash between workers of the Janata Dal (S) and BJP outside the booth, which led to a fistfight. Some of them also indulged in stone throwing. Mr. Kondajji sustained a head injury in the stone-throwing incident. He was taken to a government hospital, where he died later.

As the news of Mr. Kondajji’s death spread, there was tension in Harihar town and all shops and other business establishments downed shutters. The police had a tough time controlling the crowd near Mr. Kondajji’s house.

Congress candidate for Davangere Lok Sabha constituency S.S. Mallikarjun visited the house and spoke to Ms. Honnamma.

Ms. Honnamma, a councillor in the Harihar City Municipal Council, was a Congress polling agent. Several Janata Dal (S) workers in Davangere are supporting the Congress candidate. The Janata Dal (S) has called for Harihar bandh on Friday demanding the Government to institute a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mallikarjun demanded that the police arrest district in-charge Minister S.A. Ravindranath for allegedly instigating his party workers to clash with Janata Dal (S) workers.

The police have registered a case against eight BJP workers, including Harihar MLA B.P. Harish. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil is camping in Harihar.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Voting peaceful in Karnataka
May Day
Bagalkot registers 57.93 per cent polling
Davangere registers 60 per cent turnout
55 p.c. polling in Chikmagalur; turnout more in naxal-hit areas
Voters from Naika community boycott polls
JD(S) worker killed in clash in Harihar
‘Chaitrada Chiguru’
Two held at BIA with Rs. 1.5 crore cash
Boycott call has no impact
1,300 passengers screened for swine flu

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu