JD(S) stages protest demanding the arrest of those who scolded govt. officer and end illegal activities in Bhadravathi

Janata Dal (Secular) members protest in Bhadravati against threats to officer, demand arrest of culprits and end to illegal activities.

Members of the Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday staged a protest in Bhadravati, condemning the recent incident in which an officer of the Mines and Geology Department was stopped from discharging her duties and was threatened with life by people who were said to be supporters of Congress MLA B.K. Sangameshwara.

The protest was led by the party’s youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who demanded the arrest of those who scolded the officer in abusive language and stopped all illegal activities in Bhadravati taluk.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the elected representative and his family members had been supporting illegal activities. “The police have not taken action against the person who scolded the lady officer. The government, which showed urgency to take action against BJP leader C.T. Ravi in connection with an incident in Belagavi, remained silent on this incident,” he said.

He further said his father, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, had been making efforts to revive the Visvesaraya Iron and Steel Plant in Bhadravathi. The people of Bhadravathi would get the plant revived in the coming days.

MLA for Shivamogga Rural Sharada Puryanaik said that the government should ensure the lady officer gets justice in the case. The Minister in charge of the district should look into the incident and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of officers and also to stop illegal activities in the taluk.

JD(S) leader Sharada Appaji Gowda said the Bhadravati assembly constituency had not seen any development in the last two years. However, the supporters of the MLA had been engaged in illegal activities, including sand mining, gambling, and single-digit lottery. She urged the police to take action against those who are engaged in such activities.

Former MLA K.B. Prasanna Kumar, district JD(S) president Kadidal Prakash, and others were present.