Bantwal tense as BJP MPs protest despite prohibitory orders

The district administration has imposed Section 144 in Bantwal, Puttur and Belthangady taluks following group clash The BJP leaders protested against the assault on RSS worker Police have taken MPs Shobha Karandlaje, Nalin Kumar Kateel and others

Despite the prohibitory orders in Bantwal, BJP and various Hindu organisations took out a protest condemning the assault on RSS worker Sharath on Friday. BJP MPs Shobha Karandlaje, Nalin Kumar Katee, MLA Sunil Kumar, MLC Ganesh Karnik addressed a huge gathering much against the prohibitory orders. They were taken into custody by the police along with leaders of Hindu organisation. However, they were later released, reports Suvarna News.

The BJP leaders strongly condemned the police's action on the protesters saying the Siddaramaiah government was partial towards them. Addressing the protesters, MP Shobha Karandlaje wondered, why the police were not allowing them to protest, peacefully. 'The Siddaramaiah government was not doing anything to investigate the murders of RSS/BJP activists including Prashanth Poojary, Harish, Kartik Raj. And, now another RSS worker Sharath has been grievously assaulted. Instead, the Congress government is shielding the murderers," rued Shobha Karandlaje.

A large contingent of police was deployed on BC Road to maintain law and order in view of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's visit to Mangaluru on Friday afternoon.