Bangalore, Apr 5: Protests in front of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)?office here on Thursday over party tickets for Assembly elections took an ugly turn when a protester died of suspected cardiac arrest.
The deceased has been identified as Velu, 48, a resident of Halanayakanahalli, Sarjapur Road in Bangalore.
The protesters had gathered in front of the KPCC office to submit a memorandum demanding party ticket for a particular candidate to contest from the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency.
The police had to resort to mild lathi-charge when the crowd turned unruly. The protesters alleged that Velu died of heart attack after the police used force, while the police insisted that the victim was not present at the scene of the protest.
A?C?Shivanna, Varthur block Congress general secretary (SC wing), said there are 1.10 lakh dalits in Mahadevapura.
Instead of fielding a native of this constituency, the ticket is likely to be given to a member of the Bhovi community which has a population of only 3,000. He said the party seems to have decided on M C?Srinivas, who does not belong to Mahadevapura. Instead, the ticket should be given to Nallurahalli T?Nagesh, Shivanna said. They wanted to submit a memorandum to protest the party decision, but realised that there were no senior leaders to receive it.
They tried to gherao the office while some tried to break police barricades. When the situation turned out of control, the police started dispersing the crowd which ran helter-skelter.
Velu fell near a footpath and his chest hit a kerb stone. He was apparently trampled by co-protesters. He was rushed to the nearby Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
He had no external injuries and the cause of death is not known, according to duty doctors. The body was handed over to the High Grounds police station. It is not just Mahadevapura Congress workers who are upset with the party over selection of candidates.
As many as five group of protesters had gathered near the KPCC office on Thursday. While one group under the leadership of Choudhari Rangappa of Turuvekere block staged a protest demanding that outsiders be not given ticket, another group headed by Sayeed Ahmed opposed G?A Bava as the candidate from Chamarajpet.
Another group headed by the Hiriyur block’s Manjunath raised objection to fielding D?Sudhakar.
Interestingly, Siddarama Chaitanya Swamiji of Areshankara Mutt of Kungial, too, led a group demanding fair share for Vokkaligas in Magadi. After witnessing a series of protests, the high command has reportedly told the State leaders that applications submitted by the agitators should not be entertained.
And, the details of those who are embarrassing the party should be sent to Delhi, it is said. Two senior leaders, V?R?Sudarshan and Motamma, are in Delhi to express their resentment.
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