KRV activists blocked from entering Belagavi, stage massive protest

BELAGAVI: With the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) planning to hold a massive public rally here to stop Maharashtra minister, who were expected to visit the district on Tuesday, the Belagavi police have detained them at the Hirebagewadi tollgate, leading to protests.

The KRV activists, arrived in hundreds of cars at Hirebagewadi tollgate.

Kannada activists pelted stones at trucks bearing Maharashtra registration numbers, damaging the windscreen. They also blackened the number plates of the vehicles and climbed on top of buses. As a result, traffic flow has been affected on the highway.

The windshield of a truck was broken and the number plates of other vehicles were blackened.

The Kannada activists, led by KRV president Narayana Gowda, proceeded towards the Hirebagewadi tollgate on the national highway in hundreds of vehicles with Kannada flags, raising slogans that Belagavi belongs to Karnataka. The police have made strict security arrangements at the toll gate under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Dr Sanjeev Patil and about 400 policemen have been deployed at the tollgate.

Earlier, KRV district president Deepak Gudaganatti vented ire at the police saying that they had sought prior permission for taking out the rally.

The KRV activists climbed on top of buses and trucks, holding up traffic.

“We are protesting against the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and Maharashtra politicians. But the police are preventing us at the Hirebagewadi toll gate. The police allow Maharashtra politicians and the MES to hold the Maha Melava, but are preventing us from holding a peaceful protest. Maybe they think we are protesting against them”, he remarked.

Referring to the incident where a PU students, who was dancing during a college fest holding a Kannada flag, was allegedly assaulted by the police, Deepak said ADGP Alok Kumar had assured of conducting an inquiry by the zonal IGP. “Now, the police are trying to scuttle our peaceful protest. If we are not allowed to enter Belagavi, the consequences will be different”, he warned.

Police detained several of the protesting activists.

Meanwhile, heavy police deployment has been made in Belagavi in view of the KRV rally, especially in sensitive areas. A huge posse of policemen, led by Police Commissioner Dr M B Boralingaiah, two DCPs, four inspectors and 10 sub-inpectors have been deployed. Also, 12 KSRP and eight CAR platoons, Varuna teargas vehicle and Rapid Intervention Vehicles have been deployed.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike chief Narayana Gowda blasted politicians for keeping mum on the border issue.

“When it comes to the border issue, land, water and language issues, politicians keep mum. Instead of preventing the entry of Maharashtra ministers, the Belagav police are stopping us from entering the city”, Narayana Gowda told Public TV.

Meanwhile, Kolhapur Shiv Sena district president Vijay Devane sent his followers to the Kuganoli police outpost near Nippani, seeking permission to enter Karnataka, but was refused. Devane was headed to attend a private event at a village in Murugod Kagal taluk in Maharashtra, but wanted to enter Karnataka.

Heavy police deployment was made at the border areas.

The police are on high alert at the border at Kuganoli in Nippani taluk and all vehicles coming from Maharashtra are being checked. Five Deputy SPs, seven police inspectors, 30 sub-inspectors and six platoons each of the DAR and KSRP have been deployed.