Ballari clash: SP suspended within 24 hours of taking charge; FIRs filed against Janardhana Reddy, Sriramulu

BALLARI/BENGALURU: Twenty-four hours after he took charge, Ballari superintendent of police Pavan Nejjur was suspended following a clash outside BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy's residence in which a Congress worker was killed.

CM Siddaramaiah Friday ordered an inquiry into the incident. Four FIRs have been registered, including against BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and former minister B Sriramulu.


The suspension followed a report by R Hitendra, ADGP (Law and Order), who said Nejjur failed to handle the situation and did not brief his seniors. "We need to know from whose gun the bullet was fired.

The bullet that was fired in the air hit Rajashekhar Reddy, killing him. I have asked for a report," the CM said.

Congress worker was killed in clash outside Janardhana Reddy’s house

Rajashekhar Reddy, a Congress worker, was killed in a clash between supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and those of Gangavathi MLA G Janardhana Reddy outside the latter’s house Thursday night.

Tension flared after Janardhana Reddy’s supporters objected to banners being erected for a Jan 3 event to install a statue of Maharishi Valmiki. What began as a verbal argument soon escalated into physical clashes, followed by stone-pelting and gunfire. Police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd, officials said.

Parameshwara said preliminary findings suggested that the bulletwhich killed Rajashekhar was fired from a private weapon, not a police one. “The FSL team is analysing evidence,” he said, adding that CCTV footage had been collected.

“We have seized five guns so far and probing who had licences,” Hitendra added, stating that an inquiry would also be held into possible police failure, and arrests would be made based on CCTV footage.

Former BJP minister B Sriramulu, who has been booked by police, alleged a conspiracy and claimed there was an attempt on Janardhana Reddy’s life. “Who permitted a banner on the road leading to the MLA’s house and shots being fired at him? A .76 mm bullet was fired. They had petrol bombs ready,” Sriramulu claimed.