Ballari Clash Over Banner Turns Deadly; Police Arrest 20, Probe Widens

Ballari city witnessed tense scenes after a violent clash broke out in the Havambhavi area on January 1 over the installation of a political banner. The incident led to the death of Congress worker Rajashekhar and prompted a large police operation, resulting in the arrest of 20 people so far.

According to police, the clash involved workers from both the Congress and the BJP. Stones were thrown, vehicles were damaged, and firing was reported during the unrest. To date, six FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident.

Of the 20 arrested, police say 10 are Congress workers and 10 are BJP workers. Those arrested from the Congress side include Karthik, Mukkala, Inayatulla, Raju, Mustafa, Srikanth, Mohammed Rasool, Babu, Venkatesh, and Mabasha. They are currently in the custody of the Brucepet Police and will be produced before a court.

Police have also made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into Rajashekhar’s death. Initial confusion surrounded the source of the bullet that struck him. Investigators have now confirmed that the 12 mm bullet was fired from the weapon of Gurcharan Singh, a private bodyguard of Satish Reddy. Gurcharan Singh has been taken into custody, along with two other private gunmen—Baljeet Singh and another guard with the same name—who are reportedly from Punjab.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high as leaders from both political parties continue to trade allegations. Police have registered a suo motu case for inciting violence, and the possibility of further arrests has not been ruled out.

Adding to the controversy, a video aired by TV9 reportedly shows an auto-rickshaw loaded with bottles and petrol bombs, raising questions about whether the violence, including an alleged attack plan, was premeditated.

Police officials say the investigation is ongoing and all aspects of the case are being examined to ensure action is taken strictly according to the law.