Mysuru: Drama unfolded in Madikeri before body of M K Ganapati, who ended life in Madikeri on Thursday, was taken from Hospital on Friday. The BJP staged a dharna leading to commotion the city. Finally, the body was taken to his native place and laid to rest.
BJP leaders Bopaiah and Appachchu Ranjan blocked the highway for two hours and ABVP activists also took part in the protest. BJP leaders from Mysuru, including Pratap Simha, G Madusudan and others, attended the funeral.
While Police handed over the body to relatives after autopsy around 12.30 pm, the body was laid to rest at Rangasamudra in Somvarpet taluk amidst tight police security.
“A case of unnatural death has been registered at Madikeri Police station and it has now been handed over to CID. The district is peaceful and the situation is under control,” said Rajendra Prasad, Kodagu SP.
Police said that after Ganapati’s brother Thammaiah came to know about the TV interview, where Ganapati had accused many politicians and police officers of harassment, he had contacted Madikeri Police. “Ganapati was traced in Vinayaka Lodge and found hanging at room number 315. He had shot the bed twice with his gun,” police said.
Thammaiah on Friday addressed a joint press meet with Southern Range IGP B.K. Singh on Friday and stated that his brother had personal issues since past two years. He was undergoing treatment for depression.
His father Kushalappa in his complaint to police had stated that his son and daughter in law, though lived together were not happy and he was unhappy about it. However Ganapati’s wife Pavana claimed that every bit of statement recorded in the TV interview was true. And he was pressured, she said.
BJP cashes in, protests
Cashing in on the suicide of DySP M.K. Ganapati, elected representatives of the BJP staged a protest at Mysuru Bank Circle, demanding the dismissal of Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George and a CBI probe into the role of Mr George and two senior IPS officers. Former ministers, MPs, MLAs and workers thronged the busy Kempegowda Road and shouted slogans against Mr George.
Party MP and state general secretary Shobha Karandlaje and former deputy chief minister R. Ashok said that since Mr George’s name was mentioned by Mr Ganapati before his death, he should be dropped from the cabinet and an FIR should be filed to pave way for a fair probe. Ms Karandlaje said Mr George’s name figured in D.K. Ravi’s death too and he should be dropped from the ministry immediately. The party youth wing has called for protests across the state. The newly appointed party youth wing president Pratap Simha said the protests will be held at all taluk and district headquarters.
