Forensic team finds bullet fragments near Janardhana Reddy’s house; Sriramulu alleges over 50 rounds fired

The bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) and a crime scene investigation officer (CSIO) team conducted a detailed inspection near the residence of MLA for Gangavati Gali Janardhana Reddy in Ballari on Monday in connection with the recent banner-related clash, during which firing was reported. The team recovered four to five bullet fragments from the area and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

A 10-member forensic team carried out an extensive search at multiple locations, including the road in front of Mr. Janardhana Reddy’s house in the Havambhavi area, the glasshouse, the compound and other spots where the clash had taken place. Before the search, the team gathered preliminary details about the incident from DIG Vartika Katiyar. The inspection comes four days after the incident.

BJP leaders alleged that crucial evidence may have been compromised owing to heavy vehicular movement and frequent visits by Central and State leaders, as well as a large number of party functionaries who had called on Mr. Janardhana Reddy in the aftermath of the clash.

The police, however, has not clarified for whom Gurucharan Singh, private gunman arrested in the murder case, was working for.

Meanwhile, former Minister B. Sriramulu alleged that more than 50 rounds were fired from weapons carried by private gunmen during the clash, targeting Mr. Janardhana Reddy. Speaking to reporters in Ballari, Mr. Sriramulu demanded that the police clarify on whose behalf the arrested private gunman was working. He also called for the arrest of the main accused who, he alleged, had instigated the violence, warning that he would undertake a padayatra from Ballari to Bengaluru if action was not taken. He said the issue would be discussed at the BJP core committee meeting before a final decision was taken.

Mr. Sriramulu also alleged that attempts had been made to destroy evidence, claiming that Congress leaders initially tried to prevent the post-mortem of the body of the worker killed in the clash. He said the police insisted on completing the post-mortem before handing over the body to the family and alleged that the body was subjected to post-mortem examination three times, purportedly to ensure evidence was preserved. He claimed to possess documentary proof and said he would make it public if required.

In a related development, G. Karunakara Reddy, brother of Mr. Janardhana Reddy, visited the latter’s residence to express solidarity following the clash. The brothers, who had reportedly been estranged for nearly a decade over a property dispute despite living next to each other, set aside their differences in the wake of the incident.