CM Siddaramaiah took big action in Ballari violence case, suspended District SP

On Thursday, the first day of the year 2026, a bad news came from Karnataka. A dispute started between Congress and BJP workers in Ballari, Karnataka over putting up a poster, which soon turned into a violent clash. There was stone pelting from both sides, bottles were thrown, slogans were raised. Bullets were also fired during the fight. A Congress worker named Rajashekhar died due to bullet injury. Now Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has taken big action in this matter. The government has suspended District SP Pawan Nijjur in the Ballari conflict case. It is noteworthy that he had taken charge yesterday i.e. Thursday and this incident happened late yesterday evening.

Why did the dispute happen?

Actually, the statue of Maharishi Valmiki has been installed at Valmiki Circle in Ballari city. This statue is to be unveiled tomorrow i.e. Saturday. Congress has put up posters across the city regarding the unveiling. Supporters of Bellary City MLA Nara Bharat Reddy reached the house of BJP MLA and former minister Janardhana Reddy from Gangavathi, putting up posters. It is being told that when Congress workers were putting up posters outside Janardhan Reddy’s house, Reddy supporters protested against it and a riot started. Supporters of both the leaders came on the road with sticks and attacked each other. Bricks, stones, bottles were thrown. During this time several rounds were fired and Congress worker Rajashekhar died due to bullet injury. Rajasekhar was part of the Congress team putting up posters outside Janardhan Reddy’s house.

Conspiracy to kill me- Janardhan Reddy

After this incident, there is an atmosphere of tension in the area and heavy police force has been deployed on the spot. Janardhan Reddy has described this incident as a conspiracy by the Congress MLA. Janardhan Reddy has alleged that Congress MLA Nara Bharat Reddy, his close aide Satish Reddy and Bharat Reddy’s father Nara Suryanarayana Reddy have conspired to kill him. He was getting out of the car when people with guns started firing at him. He could escape with great difficulty.

What action has the police taken so far?

At the same time, the police have registered four cases against a total of 11 people including Janardhan Reddy in this case. Police are saying that how the dispute happened, who started it, who fired the bullet, all these things will become clear only after investigation. After the incident, the government has suspended Bellary SP Pawan Nijjur. Pawan Nijjur had joined as SP on Thursday itself and this incident happened in the evening. After this incident, the unveiling program of Maharishi Valmiki’s statue tomorrow has also been postponed.

Statue unveiling program postponed

In view of the prevailing law and order situation following the death of Congress worker Rajasekhara Reddy, the program to unveil the statue of Maharishi Valmiki in Ballari on Saturday has been postponed for the time being. A statement issued from the office of Ballari MLA Nara Bharat Reddy on Friday said that unveiling the statue amid heightened tension in the city could lead to untoward incidents. Sources said that the district administration had submitted a report to the government in which it had warned about possible problems in law and order.

CM Siddaramaiah’s statement came

On the Ballari violence, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I have suspended the SP of Ballari district. I do not want to answer to the BJP… I have suspended the SP because he was not present at the spot.”

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