FIR against Panchamasali protesters a day after clash

BENGALURU: Day after a clash between protesters of the Panchamasali Lingayat community and police near Suvarna Vikas Soudha in Belagavi, Hirebagewadi police registered a suo motu case and filed an FIR against several demonstrators, an officer said on Wednesday.

- HT Correspondent

At a press conference, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, IGP Vikash Kumar Vikash, Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled, and City Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang defended the lathi charge on the protesters as it was unavoidable after protesters violated court orders to maintain peace.

"The agitators created a tense situation by attempting to storm Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and pelting stones at police and vehicles. In such extreme circumstances, the police had no choice but to resort to a lathi charge," Guled said. He reported that 10 protesters and 14 police personnel were injured and are receiving treatment at various hospitals.

He further said that an FIR has been registered against multiple people, including Ningappa Banad, Ramagowda Fakira-gouda, Umesh Ingalewar, Manjunath Bendigeri, and Manjunath Gummagol, under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences such as assault, obstruction of duty, damage to public property, and attempted murder. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify additional suspects involved in the unrest.