Ramanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): A BJP worker sustained head injuries after he was attacked allegedly by two men with a wooden stick in Kempashettidoddi village here, police said on Thursday. Naveen CS (34), a farmer, was attacked on April 9, they said.

Following the incident, BJP State President BY Vijayendra accused the Congress of attacking BJP-JDS workers and creating an atmosphere of fear.

According to Naveen's family, a day before the incident, he had gone to his acquaintance Shekhar's house after some persons told him that the latter had called him. Things took a turn when Naveen did not return home that night.

In his complaint, the victim’s brother Shivakumar C S stated that on April 9, he got a call from someone saying that his brother was at Shekhar’s house in Kempashettidoddi village.

When Shivakumar and his father went there to pick Naveen up, they saw Shekhar and his accomplice allegedly fighting with Naveen, and hit him with a wooden stick on his head.

The accused even tried to allegedly attack Naveen with a knife, but he survived as his brother and father intervened. The accused then fled the spot. The victim was immediately rushed to a local hospital where after initial treatment, he was shifted to another one where is currently being treated.

According to Shivakumar, Shekhar and Naveen had some financial transactions and they suspect that a monetary dispute could have triggered the fight which eventually led to the attack.

“Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon or means), 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code at Bidadi police station and further investigation is underway", a senior police officer said.

Nobody has been arrested in the matter yet, he said.

Taking to X, the State BJP President shared a picture of the party worker with injuries and alleged that Karnataka Congress which is "known for its politics of goondaism with money, liquor and muscle power" is desperate in Bengaluru Rural.

"They have brutally attacked the voters and BJP-JDS workers who stood against them and started creating fear in the constituency. A Congress goon has fatally attacked Naveen, a silk grower and BJP worker, but the culprits have not been arrested, raising suspicions,” he alleged.

Hitting out at Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother Suresh who is the Congress candidate from Bangalore Rural, he further alleged that the district is in the grip of the DK brothers (Shivakumar and Suresh) and said that attacking BJP workers and threatening voters is an "unpardonable" offence.

He urged the Election Commission and the police to immediately act against the "Congress goons", conduct an impartial investigation and take all necessary measures to conduct peaceful polls and protect the voters.

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New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.