Petrol in soda bottle, gunman firing: Is this a movie-style murder plan ? Reddy alleged
Bellary : The ongoing political turmoil in Bellary over the banner row has taken a new turn, with former minister Sriramulu and MLA Janardhan Reddy holding a joint press conference to sharply criticize the Congress government. The duo accused the state administration of orchestrating violence and negligence in law enforcement, raising serious concerns about governance in the region.
Speaking to the media, Sriramulu described the Bellary incident as premeditated rather than accidental. He alleged that MLA Bharat Reddy had planned a “film-style” entry into the scene, with supporters carrying petrol-filled soda bottles and hundreds of people mobilized to attack their party members. According to Sriramulu, the Congress MLAs were behind the orchestrated chaos, aiming specifically at Janardhan Reddy.
He also criticized the police response, targeting the suspended ASP Ravikumar and the transfer of SP Pavan Nejjuru, claiming their deliberate inaction contributed to the escalation of violence. Sriramulu alleged that the ASP delayed the use of tear gas, even as the situation worsened, and accused the IG of coordinating with Bharat Reddy to determine which cases to file against them. “Is this the law and order system in Karnataka?” he questioned angrily.
Sriramulu also detailed an attack involving gunmen, stating that Satish Reddy’s hired shooter aimed directly at Janardhan Reddy, but the MLA narrowly escaped. The bullets were recovered at the scene, and a post-mortem was conducted twice on the deceased, Rajshekhar, who was allegedly standing near Bharat Reddy. He suggested that attempts were made to cover up the incident and frame Janardhan Reddy with murder charges.
Addressing rumors about SP Pavan Nejjuru’s alleged suicide attempt, Sriramulu demanded clarification on his whereabouts and actions during the crisis. He questioned why Nejjuru, who had reported to his parents and provided statements, did not directly address the media.
Sriramulu concluded by asserting that he had contacted Home Minister DK Shivakumar in good faith to prevent escalation, providing details to senior officials. However, he emphasized that justice could only prevail if the primary accused, Bharat Reddy, was immediately arrested. The press conference highlighted the deepening political fault lines in Bellary, raising questions about the state government’s handling of law and order.
