Clashes broke out in Karnataka's Ballari between BJP and Congress supporters over installing a banner, escalating to stone-pelting and alleged firing. Police resorted to a lathi charge to control the situation. Rumours of one death circulated, though unconfirmed by authorities.
Tension flared in Ballari, Karnataka, on Thursday when supporters of BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and Congress MLA Bharath Reddy clashed over installing banners outside Reddy's residence in the Avambhavi area. What started as a verbal altercation quickly turned physical, with both sides allegedly pelting stones. Social media videos showed a private gunman firing shots into the air amid the chaos.
The incident occurred ahead of a Valmiki statue unveiling scheduled for January 3. Speaking to reporters, Janardhana Reddy alleged a murder conspiracy hatched by Bharath Reddy, his aide Satish Reddy, and Bharath Reddy's father, Nara Suryanarayana Reddy. He claimed that upon his arrival from Gangavathi, gunmen linked to Satish Reddy fired four to five rounds, and he displayed the bullets as evidence. Reddy further accused the opposition of trying to 'set the town on fire' under the guise of the statue event, using criminals for intimidation.
Police rushed to the scene but faced stone-pelting themselves, prompting a lathi charge and tear gas deployment to disperse the crowd. Additional forces were mobilized, and security tightened to prevent further escalation. While rumours and one report suggested a person was killed in the firing, police did not confirm any casualties. Investigations are underway to verify the sequence of events and allegations.
