26 Arrested In Connection With Ballari Clashes
Though the police are yet to officially clarify the source of the bullet that killed Congress worker Rajasekhar, sources told Deccan Chronicle that the fatal shot is suspected to have come from the weapon carried by Gurucharan
Ballari: Ballari police have arrested 26 persons, including Gurucharan, the private gunman of Sathish Reddy, in connection with violent clashes over the erection of banners and buntings in the city that escalated into stone-pelting and firing, leaving a Congress worker dead.
Though the police are yet to officially clarify the source of the bullet that killed Congress worker Rajasekhar, sources told Deccan Chronicle that the fatal shot is suspected to have come from the weapon carried by Gurucharan. According to preliminary inputs, Gurucharan is believed to have fired in the air during the clash, and the bullet may have accidentally struck Rajasekhar.
Police had collected the weapons of the private gunmen and sent it to FSL for ballistic examination.
A police statement on Sunday stated that the arrest of 26 persons was based on witness statements and video footage collected during the investigation. All the arrested have been produced before the court. A total of six cases have been registered at the Brucepet Police Station in connection with the incident.
The violence erupted on January 1 following a dispute over banners erected in front of Janardhan Reddy’s residence, ahead of the inauguration of a Maharshi Valmiki statue scheduled for January 3. The situation spiralled into clashes between rival groups, with stone-pelting reported from both sides. Private security personnel of Sathish Reddy allegedly opened fire in the air during the unrest.
Rajasekhar Reddy died in the firing, while a police officer, several police personnel, and members of the public sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, a video purportedly showing bottles allegedly meant to be used as petrol bombs being transported in an autorickshaw, which was later intercepted by the police, has gone viral on social media, adding to the controversy.
Reacting to the developments, Leader of the Opposition R Ashok defined the video as the proof that the attack was a preplanned one.
“They brought petrol bombs in a rickshaw, which was intercepted by the police. We have the video. This clearly shows the attack was premeditated,” he alleged.
Questioning the intelligence apparatus, Ashok said, “If there was intelligence, would they not know about nearly 1,000 people walking for over a kilometre? How long would it take for reserve police forces to reach?”
Ashok further alleged that the incident was part of a larger conspiracy.
“As Leader of the Opposition, I state clearly that a conspiracy was hatched to eliminate MLA Janardhan Reddy,” he said, demanding that the case be handed over to a judicial or CBI probe.
He accused Ballari MLA Nara Bharat Reddy of mobilising a large crowd and alleged police complicity.
“Police stations have now turned into Congress offices. Putting up banners is not wrong, but putting them on someone’s house is wrong. They came holding beer bottles, brought private gunmen, and erected banners inside the house compound,” he claimed.
“The case should be handed over to CBI or a judicial inquiry. We will appeal to the Governor about this,” he informed.
Claiming multiple rounds were fired during the clashes, Ashok said, “Not just one bullet, five or six bullets were fired.”
