11 Booked, Including Janardhana Reddy and Sriramulu, After Ballari Clash
The accused have been booked under multiple sections, including attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and rioting
Ballari: Brucepet Police have registered an FIR against 11 persons, including Gangavathi MLA and former minister Janardhana Reddy, his brother Somashekar Reddy and former minister B Sriramulu, in connection with the violence reported in Ballari on Thursday night.
The accused have been booked under multiple sections, including attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and rioting.
The complaint was lodged at around 1 am on January 2 by Chanal Shekhar, a resident of Moka Road in Ballari. Based on the complaint, police registered a case.
According to the FIR, a programme to inaugurate a Valmiki statue near SP Circle was planned by Ballari city MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. The complaint alleges that between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm on January 1, banners put up for the inauguration were allegedly torn down near Siruguppa Road, close to the residence of Janardhana Reddy.
The FIR further states that when the complainant and another person, Satish Reddy, questioned the removal of the banners, the accused and their supporters allegedly picked up a quarrel and assaulted the complainant, Satish Reddy and Basavaraj, a gunman. The complaint alleges that the assault was carried out with intent to cause serious harm.
It is also stated in the FIR that police constable Srinivasa, who attempted to intervene and defuse the situation, sustained injuries during the incident.
A case is registered under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons or means), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 190 (offences committed in prosecution of a common object), 191(2) and 191(3) (rioting), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The clash on Thursday night between supporters of Bharath Reddy and Janardhana Reddy escalated, with incidents of stone-pelting and firing being reported. A Congress worker, Rajashekhar, was killed in the firing. Bharath Reddy and Janardhana Reddy have blamed each other for the violence and the firing incident.
