High drama over stripping of BJP woman activist during arrest, Hubballi police deny charge

HUBBALLI: Tension prevailed for some time in the city on Wednesday after the Keshwapur police were accused of stripping a woman BJP activist and thrashing her while arresting her. However, Police Commissioner N Shashikumar refuted the allegations and said the woman had injured several women police officers and personnel and had stripped herself to avoid arrest.

The incident stems from an old feud between BJP and Congress workers, reportedly triggered by a dispute over voter list revisions. Sujatha Handi a.k.a Vijayalakshmi, a former Congress worker turned BJP activist, was arrested following a complaint by Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla over a dispute regarding electoral roll revision under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

While some locals claimed that the police used excessive force while arresting Sujatha, the police countered that Sujata, with a history of 9 criminal cases, including murder and assault, resisted arrest and tried to create a scene.

Police Commissioner N Shashikumar, who visited the Keshwapur police station to investigate the alleged stripping and assault, said, “Sujatha Handi attacked our police personnel during arrest. She removed her clothes after being taken into custody and assaulted female police staffers, biting and pushing them. She has multiple cases against her, and four police personnel were injured in the incident”.

The two women officers shed tears in front of the police commissioner.

He said investigations are underway to uncover the truth behind the incident. Some of the injured policewomen also shed tears before the police commissioner.

Four female police officers from Hubballi Women’s Police Station were allegedly attacked by Sujatha Handi in a police van. The injured police personnel are Police Sub-Inspector Kalavathi, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shakuntala and women police constables Margaret and Lakshmi Vaddar.

The officers, including PSI Kalavathi, claimed that Sujatha and her family members assaulted them at their home, where they were sent by senior officials. Sujatha allegedly bit the two officer on the stomach and resisted arrest. According to PSI Kalavathi, “Sujata’s sister Vijaya tried to strangle herself with a saree, and when we intervened, Sujatha stripped and threw her undergarments at us. She was trying to escape and created a scene”.

Meanwhile, Sujatha’s family, including her mother Kamalamma and brother Mariyadas approached BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkayi, alleging police brutality and demanding justice.

They claimed that the Keshwapur police, led by the inspector, have been harassing them and falsely implicating Sujatha in crimes. The family alleged that police used excessive force, stripping and beating Sujatha, and was pressuring them to give false statements.

Sujatha’s brother Mariyadas said, “My sister was a Congress worker, but after joining BJP, they’ve targeted her. Police are settling scores and trying to frame her”.

The family is seeking justice and an impartial investigation into the alleged police misconduct. They’re supported by local BJP leaders and are planning to approach senior leaders.