BELAGAVI, 10 AUG

To prevent people from neighbouring Maharashtra from attending an 11 August rally organised by the pro-Maharashtrian group Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), police have deployed additional forces at all border checkposts from Sunday evening.

The government did not grant MES permission for holding a rally, Belagavi Police Commissioner Bushan Borase said. However, the MES announced that they would conduct a rally anyway, prompting a reaction from the State government. 

There had been reports about the possible participation of MES supporters from Maharashtra, the commissioner added.

Apart from regular staff, additional police personnel would be deployed at Koganolli RTO checkpoint in Nippani taluk and at Kudremani in Belagavi taluk from Sunday evening. 

Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled said all public and private vehicles entering the district, along with passengers at railway stations and the airport, would be checked until the event concludes, regardless of permission status.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Narayan Baramani said permission was refused as it may disturb public order. MES was advised to submit its demands to the Deputy Commissioner instead.

The rally is aimed at opposing compulsory Kannada in the border areas. The MES plans a march from Dharamaveer Sambhaji Circle to the DC’s office after a public meeting at Maratha Mandir. MES has demanded State follow the National Linguistic Minorities Commission norms, which mandate official documents in minority languages if they exceed 14 per cent of the population.