‘Not pre-planned’: DK Shivakumar rejects BJP charge over Ballari clash
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday rejected the BJP’s allegation that the recent violent clash in Ballari was a “pre-planned conspiracy”, and said conclusions should be drawn only after the inquiry report is submitted.
According to a report published by NDTV on Saturday, "We have suspended the SP. Let the inquiry come out. This was not preplanned," Shivakumar said, responding to claims made by the opposition.
His remarks came after Leader of Opposition R Ashoka alleged that the clash, which resulted in the death of a Congress worker, was orchestrated in advance.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced the suspension of Superintendent of Police (SP) Ballari following a violent clash that killed Congress worker Rajashekhar, saying SP Pavan Nejjur has been suspended for his absence on the spot.
The violence broke out between supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy, leading to the death of Congress worker Rajashekhar.
Siddaramaiah, speaking to the media regarding the allegations made by the opposition BJP, said, "I don't want to answer the BJP. I have suspended the SP because he was not present on the spot." NDTV quoted him as saying.
The clash led to further violent incidents, including stone pelting. According to a letter from the Director General & Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, Ballari, the officer did not effectively manage the situation and failed to brief senior officers on the ground situation properly.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R Hithendra said five firearms had been seized from private gunmen at the site. The weapons were allegedly used during the violence, he said.
The government has said a detailed inquiry is underway and further action will be taken based on the findings.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
