Case booked against Janardhan Reddy, 10 others in Ballari clash over banner; heavy security deployed

Police on Friday (January 2, 2026) registered a case against Gangavathi MLA and former Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, and 10 others in connection with the clash that broke out near his residence in Avvambhavi area of Ballari on Thursday (January 1)evening.

A Congress worker was killed in the clash over the installation of banners, even as the city remained under heavy police security following back-to-back incidents of violence

The FIR was registered around 1 a.m. on Friday (January 2) at Brucepet police station based on a complaint filed by Chanal Shekhar, an associate of Ballari City MLA Nara Bharath Reddy.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy has been named as Accused No.1 in the case, while his brother Somasekhar Reddy is listed as Accused No. 2. Former minister B. Sriramulu has been named as Accused No.3, and Ballari City Corporation opposition leader Motkar Srinivas as Accused No.4. In all, 11 persons have been named in the FIR.

The case is booked under various Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons or means), 191(2) (punishment for rioting), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (criminal intimidation)

According to the complaint filed by Chanal Shekhar, a Congress functionary and associate of Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, the incident took place while banners were being erected in the city ahead of the Valmiki statue unveiling scheduled for Saturday (January 3). He alleged that banners put up along Siruguppa Road near the Avvambhavi residence of Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy were forcibly removed, leading to a confrontation.

The complainant claimed that Janardhan Reddy, his brother Somasekhar Reddy and their supporters gathered at the spot armed with stones and wooden sticks, abused Congress workers, issued threats and assaulted them. He alleged that Satish Reddy sustained a head injury after being hit with a stone, while Hanumanthappa, gunman Basavaraj and a police constable, Srinivasa, were also injured while trying to intervene

. The injured were later shifted to hospital, and the complainant sought strict legal action against those involved.

Following two clashes reported in the city on Thursday (January 1), police imposed a tight security blanket around Janardhan Reddy’s residence and sensitive areas, including Valmiki Circle. With tension prevailing, additional police forces were rushed in from neighbouring districts, including Vijayanagara, Chitradurga and Koppal. Large contingents of police personnel were seen deployed across the city to prevent any further flare-ups.

Meanwhile, Bharath Reddy visited the Ballari Medical College and Research Centre’s hospital to pay his last respects to Congress worker Rajasekhar, who was killed during the second clash on Thursday (January 1) night, and consoled the bereaved family.