Congress worker shot dead during clash between rival groups in Ballari
Ballari: A Congress worker was shot dead during a clash between rival Reddy groups over the installation of banners ahead of a Valmiki statue unveiling programme in Ballari city on Thursday night.
The incident took place in the Havambhavi area of the city. The deceased has been identified as Rajasekhar (28), a resident of Hussain Nagar in Ballari.
According to reports, tensions erupted between supporters of former minister Janardhan Reddy and supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy while banners were being put up in connection with the Valmiki statue unveiling scheduled for January 3. What began as a dispute over banners soon escalated into stone-pelting between the two groups.
During the clash, firing took place, and Rajasekhar sustained a gunshot injury and died. As the situation spiralled out of control, police rushed to the spot and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
Janardhan Reddy alleged that the firing was carried out by the gunman of Satish Reddy, an aide of Bharath Reddy. He claimed that rowdy elements were brought in to forcibly put up banners and that there was an attempt on his life under the pretext of the banner dispute. He also displayed a bullet cartridge, alleging that it was used by supporters of Bharath Reddy during the incident.
Reacting to the incident, Congress MLA Bharath Reddy warned that protests would continue until those responsible for the death of the Congress worker are arrested. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
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2 detained after comment over wedding procession to Dalit house sparks clash in UP's Shahjahanpur
Shahjahanpur (UP) (PTI): Two persons have been detained after a clash broke out allegedly over remarks targeting a Dalit family's wedding procession in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in Lai Kheda village under Tilhar police station area, where a wedding procession from Bareilly had arrived at a Dalit household on April 20.
According to SP Saurabh Dixit, when the procession was near the house of Rajpal Yadav, he allegedly made a remark saying "Now, Dalits will also take out wedding processions riding a buggy", leading to an argument. Yadav's side allegedly turned aggressive, escalating the conflict further.
Police said a scuffle ensued between the two sides. Upon receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and ensured that the procession was conducted peacefully after the incident.
An FIR was registered on Friday against Rajpal Yadav, Sumit, Amit, Surendra, Avdhesh Yadav and five unidentified persons based on a complaint. Rajpal Yadav and his son Sumit have been taken into custody and are being questioned, Dixit said.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police said.
Dixit said preliminary findings suggest that Yadav, too, was hosting a function and processions from both sides had arrived around the same time. A dispute may have initially arisen due to a narrow passage and attempts to move the processions quickly.
Police have registered the case under relevant sections of the BNS and initiated further probe, officials said.
