Ballari BJP-Congress clash: Karnataka govt likely to order CID probe

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, “Even I called him over the phone immediately after the incident, and I know in what stage he was. I also spoke to the previous SP and other local MLAs and leaders.” (File Photo)

Three days after a Congress worker died during a clash with BJP supporters in Ballari, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday said that the case would likely be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

On January 1, Congress and BJP workers engaged in a violent clash over the installation of a banner near the residence of BJP MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy in Ballari. During the clash, Congress worker Rajashekar Reddy died of gunshot wounds.

Parameshwara confirmed that the police did not open fire, and the 12mm bullet that killed Rajashekar Reddy was fired by a private gunman.

The minister then said, “We are contemplating handing over the case to CID, and I will ask the chief minister before taking a final call.”

Following the death, Ballari SP Pavan Nejjur, who had taken charge on January 1, was suspended.

Meanwhile, justifying the decision to suspend Nejjur within 24 hours of him taking charge, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, “Even I called him over the phone immediately after the incident, and I know in what stage he was. I also spoke to the previous SP and other local MLAs and leaders.”

According to a highly placed source, Nejjur was also suspended for failing to contain the situation.

The source further said, “Five guns have been seized, and preliminary reports suggest that several rounds of bullets were fired in the air, and one such bullet hit Rajashekar Reddy. The bullet that hit the deceased belongs to Congress MLA Satish Reddy’s gunman. We are ascertaining the facts as the probe progresses.”

The police have registered four cases, including a suo motu case following the January 1 clash.

BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy Sunday held a press meet and said that he has written two separate letters to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting them to provide him Z-category security. He alleged Friday’s clash was part of a pre-planned attack to kill him.