Kannada activists detained during BCC picketing bid

Belagavi: Police detained and later released pro-Kannada activists who tried to picket the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) office on Tuesday, demanding a resolution affirming the city as part of Karnataka and backing the Mahajan Commission report in the border row. The protest, led by Vatal Nagaraj, Sa Ra Govindu and Manjunath Devar, saw activists perform rituals before marching towards the BCC, where they were stopped by police. Addressing supporters near the deputy commissioner’s office, Vatal Nagaraj said Belagavi would always remain an integral part of Karnataka and asserted that nothing prevented the BCC from passing a pro-Kannada resolution. He warned of intensified protests if no decision was taken within a week. He said Kannada organisations would meet in Bengaluru on June 4 to decide on a statewide bandh over the issue. Sa Ra Govindu said the agitation for Belagavi and Kannada would continue until its goals were achieved. Several activists from pro-Kannada groups participated. Police later detained the protesters and released them as a preventive measure during the demonstration.