A violent confrontation between supporters of two rival political factions in Ballari late Thursday evening culminated in the death of a Congress party worker and serious allegations of an assassination attempt against a prominent legislator. The incident, which unfolded in the Havambavi area, has sent shockwaves through the city and prompted a significant police deployment.
Banner Dispute Escalates into Deadly Violence
The trouble began in the run-up to a scheduled Valmiki statue unveiling event on January 3. As banners were being erected across the city, a dispute erupted near the residence of Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy in Havambavi. Supporters of city MLA Nara Bharat Reddy and those of Janardhana Reddy clashed over the placement of banners. The verbal altercation quickly spiraled out of control when individuals from the groups began pelting stones at each other.
Upon arrival, police personnel were also met with a barrage of stones. To disperse the unruly mob and restore public order, the police were forced to conduct a lathicharge. Amid the escalating chaos, Janardhana Reddy, who had just returned from his constituency, found himself surrounded by Congress supporters. It was at this critical juncture that four rounds of gunfire were reportedly unleashed from the side of Bharat Reddy's supporters.
Fatal Outcome and Serious Allegations
The gunfire proved fatal for Rajashekhar, a Congress worker and a known supporter of MLA Nara Bharat Reddy. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene. In the aftermath, a visibly shaken Gali Janardhana Reddy made a stunning accusation. Holding up an empty bullet casing, he directly blamed Bharat Reddy for orchestrating an attack on his life.
"When I came here, Bharat Reddy's supporter Satish Reddy's gunmen fired 4-5 rounds. This was an assassination attempt on me," Janardhana Reddy stated. He also claimed that earlier, when he was away at his constituency, Bharat Reddy's supporters had placed chairs in front of his house to create a disturbance.
MLA Nara Bharat Reddy swiftly denied all charges, counter-accusing Janardhana Reddy of levelling baseless allegations to cover up his own shortcomings. The exchange of serious allegations between the two political leaders has intensified the political tension in the region.
Police Response and Heightened Security
In response to the grave situation, the police administration has taken stringent measures. Additional police forces have been deployed across sensitive points in Havambavi and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure to prevent any further outbreak of violence. Overseeing the situation on the ground is the newly appointed Superintendent of Police, Pawan Nejjur, who had taken charge only on Thursday. SP Nejjur is currently camping at the incident site to monitor the law and order scenario closely.
The incident, occurring just days before a major public event, has raised serious concerns about political rivalry and public safety in Ballari. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and identify all individuals responsible for the violence and the fatal shooting.
