Kishore Peraje

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Jul 14: Party workers of BJP and Congress engaged in a scuffle after they gathered to hold a protest over different issues at Kavalakatte here on Wednesday, July 14. 

Congress party workers had gathered opposing the Kavala Mooduru gram panchayat's decision to hike water and property tax. 

Scuffle broke out among the workers of both the parties after Congress questioned the presence of an RTI activist in the protest and the BJP workers opposed the same. Members of both the parties engaged in manhandling each other and hurled allegations. 

RTI activist Padmanabha Mayya was allegedly attacked by Congress workers, it is gathered.

Later, both the parties raised slogans against each other’s parties. As the situation turned tense in the region, Punjalkatte sub-inspector Soumya intervened and controlled the situation. Meanwhile, both party leaders continued hurling allegations against each other. The police had to then disperse the crowd using their canes.

RTI activist Padmanabha Mayya has been admitted to Punjalkatte government hospital. Congress party workers Sadananda Shetty and BR Anchan were admitted to a government hospital in Bantwal.

The police, after taking the statements from those who are admitted to the hospital, are continuing their probe. Bantwal DySP Valentine D'Souza, Beltangady circle inspector Shiva Kumar rushed to the spot and collected information from Kavalamuduru Co-operative Society president Padmashekar Jain and district Youth BJP secretary Sudarshan Baja regarding the incident.