Manjeshwar: MLA A K M Ashraf, over 15 others detained during toll gate protest at Kumble
Manjeshwar: Police on Thursday detained more than 15 people, including Manjeshwar legislator A K M Ashraf, in connection with the protest against toll collection at the Kumble Arikkadi toll plaza on National Highway 66.
The detentions were carried out by Kumble police after protesters attempted to continue an indefinite agitation near the toll gate. Police also removed the temporary tarpaulin shelter erected by the protesters at the site.
The action followed an incident late Wednesday night in which protesters allegedly vandalised the toll plaza at Kumble Arikkadi. According to police, CCTV cameras, barricades and glass panels at the toll gate were damaged during the protest. An FIR has been registered against more than 500 people in connection with the incident.
On Wednesday, protesters reportedly took out a procession from Kumble town to the toll gate, demanding the suspension of toll collection and allegedly vandalized toll booth. The protest continued on Thursday morning.
Kasaragod Superintendent of Police had earlier appealed to Ashraf to withdraw the indefinite protest, citing concerns over law and order. Police said that when the MLA declined to do so, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar moved in and detained Ashraf along with other protesters.
Among those taken into custody were CPM Kumble zonal secretary C A Zubair, Kumble Gram Panchayat president V P Abdul Khader Haji, Block Panchayat Standing Committee president Ashraf Karle, A K Arif, and Congress leader Lakshman Prabhu.
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K'taka bypolls: 11.87 percent voter turnout in Bagalkot, 9.01 percent in Davanagere South till 9 am
Bengaluru (PTI): In the first two hours since voting began for bypolls to two Bagalkot and Davanagere South assembly constituencies, the voter turnout stood at 11.87 percent and 9.01 percent, respectively, on Thursday.
The voting for the bypolls in two constituencies necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, began at 7 am, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.
While the Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP is aiming to wrest them and deliver a setback to the ruling party, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
Officials said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of bypolls.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Samarth’s father, S S Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet and in charge of Davanagere district, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, H Y Meti defeated BJP’s Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in Bagalkot, while Shivashankarappa defeated BJP’s B G Ajay Kumar by 27,888 votes in Davanagere South.
