Ballari, 2 Jan 

The opposition BJP on Friday alleged a collapse of law and order in Karnataka following violent clashes in Ballari over the installation of a banner ahead of a statue unveiling programme, claiming that party MLA G Janardhan Reddy’s life was under threat and seeking police protection for him.

In Ballari, Janardhan Reddy alleged a planned conspiracy against him by Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and claimed there was a threat to his life.

He demanded a probe by a sitting judge or CBI into the incident.

Tension prevailed in parts of Ballari on Thursday night after supporters of Ballari City MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Gangavati MLA G Janardhan Reddy allegedly clashed over banner installation. The confrontation turned violent, with stones allegedly pelted and bullets fired. One person was killed in the incident, police said.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of BJP leaders led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and Council, R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayaswamy, met Director General of Police M A Saleem in Bengaluru and submitted a petition seeking police protection for Janardhan Reddy.

Later speaking to reporters, Ashoka demanded a judicial probe and accused the Congress of fostering “gunda raj” in Ballari.

“There is a total collapse of Law and Order in Ballari....MLA Nara Bharat Reddy's associates had gathered to create a situation to finish off Janardan Reddy. This is a politically motivated matter, and Home Minister G Parameshwara, instead of assuring the life and liberty of Janardan Reddy, was speaking with Nara Bharat Reddy (soon after the incident last night),” Ashoka said.

In the petition to the DGP, Ashoka claimed that the lives of Janardhan Reddy and former minister B Sriramulu were in danger and sought protection.

“Those responsible for the death of a person should be identified and legal action should be initiated and weapons should be seized,” he said, also seeking quashing of what he termed false cases registered against Janardhan Reddy.

Terming the death as “painful”, Sriramulu, speaking in Ballari with Janardhan Reddy by his side, said, “Installation of the banner was objected to as it was obstructing access to Janardhan Reddy's house and those who had come to install initially had agreed to remove and left. But, they later returned after Reddy came home from Gangavathi, as per plan, and suddenly attacked. There was commotion, Reddy and I moved to the side and subsequently there was gunfire.”

Alleging that gunmen linked to a confidant of Bharath Reddy opened fire, Sriramulu asked, “who gave them the authority to fire bullets at public places?”

“The bullets that were fired prima facie appear to be 0.76 mm. It can be seen in the videos that the bullets are being fired by the gunmen of Satish Reddy, who is neither an MLA nor a public representative.”

He added, “Let the inquiry be done by a sitting High Court judge and if we have committed a crime, arrest and punish us. If you don't want a sitting HC judge, give the case to the CBI probe.”

Janardhan Reddy said firing began soon after he reached his residence.

“I'm giving a complaint personally regarding safety for my life, and the collapse of law and order in Ballari.”

Responding, Bharath Reddy said police were investigating the case and declined to comment further.

“Our boy has died during the incident, we are in deep pain... I don't want to speak much now,” he said.