Police arrest two in Bagalkot stone-throwing incident

Bagalkot Police have arrested two people on the charge of trying to provoke violence and disrupt police work during the recent stone-throwing incident in the town.

Twentytwo-year-old Ashok Barker and 38-year-old Sandeep Pherde are the two arrested.

Investigators say that they had zeroed in on these two after studying CCTV footage, photos of the incident and collection of other evidence.

Deputy Commissioner Sangappa, meanwhile, issued orders prohibiting the entry of Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Mutalik and Hindutva leader Punit Kerehalli who were scheduled to address a rally in the city.

BJP leader B. Sriramulu said that a Hindutva activist was injured when the police tried to disrupt the crowd through a lathi-charge.

Mr. Sriramulu said that the State government policies of minority appeasement have made the District Police helpless against dangerous communal elements.

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi has dismissed the allegations and said that the police are busy investigating the incident and all the accused, irrespective of their background, will be arrested.

“Some people have already been arrested. The other accused will be arrested soon. However, investigation will take time. It does not happen immediately,” he told reporters in Bagalkot.

He said that the State government has ensured functional autonomy to the police and that no one will not interfere in their work.

“The police will do their duty and ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he said.