Koppal (Karnataka): In a shocking incident, JDS member Channabasappa Kotihal was caught on camera slapping a woman member at a local party gathering in Karnataka.
The police, which has filed an FIR against Kotihal, is likely to arrest him but he is believed to be absconding. According to reports, the party is likely to suspend him.
The woman member of the Koppal city municipal council, Vijaya Hiremanth, had earlier filed a police complaint against Kotihal for allegedly assaulting her during the election of its president and vice president.
WATCH: A JDS worker slaps a woman party worker during JD(S) meet in Koppal (Karnataka) (Mar 11) (Source: unverified)https://t.co/QVE3nB5TyP
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The JDS member allegedly rushed towards Ms Hiremath and slapped her after she raised her hand in support of the Congress backed corporator Mahendra Chopra, who was elected president with 17 votes, beating a joint candidate of the BJP and JDS, Gavisiddappa Chinnur.
Congress members rushed to the woman corporator's help and dragged Mr Koihal out of the meeting hall. A ruckus followed with Congress, BJP and JDS workers getting into a physical fight outside the council hall, forcing police to resort to a mild lathicharge to contain the situation. An independent member of the city council, Ms Hiremath said later that she was free to support any candidate of her choice and complained that none of the BJP councillors or even Koppal BJP MP Sanganna Karadi, tried to stop Mr Kotihal when he was assaulting her.
"Only Congress members and Koppal Congress MLA, Raghavendra Hitnal came to my rescue," she said.
