1 killed as BJP, Congress workers clash in Karnataka over tying banner

Key Highlights

• What began as a verbal altercation soon escalated, with supporters from both sides allegedly resorting to stone-pelting. advertisementPolice said some members of both groups threw stones at their rivals and at personnel who rushed to the spot.
• After initial attempts to disperse the crowd failed, police resorted to a lathi charge and fired teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
• Tension flared up in the city on Thursday following the clashes over the installation of banners, police said.
• Rumours circulated that a person had been killed in the firing during the incident, though police did not confirm any casualties at the time. Videos circulating on social media showed a private gunman allegedly firing shots into the air as tension gripped the area. The confrontation occurred ahead of a Valmiki statue unveiling programme scheduled to be held in the city on January 3.
• As the situation threatened to spiral out of control, police deployed additional forces as a precautionary measure and tightened security to prevent further untoward incidents. Speaking to reporters later, Janardhan Reddy alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to murder him by Ballari City MLA Bharath Reddy, his close aide Satish Reddy, and Bharath Reddy’s father, Nara Suryanarayana Reddy.