Protest, counter-allegations mark row over arrest of BJP woman worker in Hubballi

Hubballi: A political blame game and protests continued at Keshwapur police station on Wednesday over the arrest and alleged assault of a BJP woman worker, with leaders from the BJP and Congress trading charges against each other.BJP workers, led by mayor Jyoti Patil and deputy mayor Santosh Chavan, attempted to picket the police station, but were stopped by police barricades. The situation turned tense as a heated argument broke out between police officials and BJP workers.Police commissioner Shashikumar later returned to the station and invited only the mayor and the deputy mayor for discussions. However, when two police personnel prevented them at the station entrance, the two leaders sat on the steps and staged a dharna. Patil alleged that the police were treating them like criminals and said she would complain to the governor over the conduct of the police.Congress, meanwhile, offered a different version of events. Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla said the issue began with a booth-level officer (BLO), Nandini Kulkarni, who had gone to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) along with BJP workers."As a BLO, she should go independently, or she should call booth agents of all political parties. Since she was accompanying BJP workers, some citizens objected to it. Since we got the information, we also rushed there and found that the BLO was accompanying BJP workers. We complained about the BLO to the HDMC commissioner on Saturday itself. Later, some people alerted us about the BLO's wrongdoing," she said.Vidyanagar block Congress president Rajat Ullagaddimath alleged that the woman attempted to attack Congress corporators and workers on Saturday. "The worker is doing all this with the support of MLA Mahesh Tenginkai, who even convened a meeting at her doorstep on Sunday and provoked them to do whatever they want, and he will be there to look after things," he alleged.Responding to the allegations, MLA Tenginkai said the woman was only helping the BLO identify houses of voters. He alleged that Congress corporator Kallakuntla objected to this and threatened the woman. "Since the areas of Chalukyanagar and Gandhiwad are filled with migrants, they obtained voter ID cards and Congress is worried about losing them," he argued.The issue has also drawn reactions from senior BJP leaders. Union minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi accused the police of excesses and demanded action."Keshwapur police committed an offence by brutally assaulting an innocent woman. It shows that women are not safe in the Congress-ruled state. Due to a power war between the CM and the DCM, the home minister has turned a blind eye, and people are spending days in fear. Severe action should be taken against all erring police," Joshi added.Police, however, rejected the allegations. A senior officer said: "Woman herself stripped off when police went to arrest her in connection with a case. We have videos and evidence of her assault acts. Police did not commit any mistake here. But they discharged their duties efficiently and patiently. The video shared by BJP workers shows a different thing. If people watch it thoroughly, the truth will come out."