BJP SC Morcha office bearer attacked in Belagavi; probe on

Belagavi: In a shocking development, Prithvi Singh, a state-level office bearer of the BJP SC Morcha unit and a staunch follower of Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi was stabbed on Monday evening. As BJP has been accusing MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, brother of women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, of being behind the attack, it may lead to friction between BJP and Congress. Prithvi Singh has been admitted to KLE Hospital here and according to hospital sources, his health condition is stable. His hand and back were injured in the knife attack. The incident took place at the Jayanagar area of Hindalga village, attached to the city. This has triggered aggressive political developments, amid the ongoing winter session in Belagavi. BJP state president BY Vijayendra visited the hospital and inquired about the health condition of Prithvi Singh. SC Morcha state president Chalavadi Narayanaswamy visited the hospital and spoke to the family members of the victim. According to sources, Prithvi Singh has a property-related litigation with the Hebbalkar family. Laxmi Hebbalkar has issued a release in this regard, stating that her family is not connected to the attack. “Prithvi Singh is making allegations against my family members with malafide intentions. Our people met him to discuss a document. Everything was recorded on a CCTV camera. While speaking to our people, he wore a saffron T-shirt. But, he has released a video wearing a white shirt. This clarifies that there is no truth in his allegations. Let him file a police complaint and let the truth come out,” she stated. Home minister G Parameshwar said action will be initiated according to law. “Police department will do its work impartially,” he said.Arrest MLC Hattiholi: VijayendraSpeaking to media persons, BJP state president BY Vijayendra demanded the immediate arrest of MLC Channaraj Hattiholi and his followers. “Minister Hebbalkar’s brother attacked a Dalit leader in broad daylight along with his followers. Before that, Hattiholi’s PA and other followers called Prithvi Singh out of the house to talk. They attacked him when he tried to record their conversation in his mobile camera. When Prithvi Singh was attacked, Channaraj Hattiholi was sitting in a black Innova car. They attacked Singh and snatched away his cell phone,” the BJP state president alleged. Vijayendra demanded an FIR be filed against MLC Hattiholi and his followers and that they be arrested immediately. “We do not have faith in the police system in this government. The family of Prithvi Singh is scared and they need to have proper security. This fatal attack in the open by influential politicians shows to what extent law and order situation has collapsed in the state,” he said.