Tensions run high in Belagavi, MES calls bandh

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has called for a ‘Belagavi Bandh’ on Tuesday to protest against the blackening of the face of a Samiti leader by an activist of Kannada Nava Nirmana Vedike in Belagavi on Monday. According to information here, the MES had organized a ‘Maha Mela’ near the Vaccine Depot to oppose holding of the joint session of the state Legislature at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha contending that Belagavi belongs to Maharashtra and it has been a ‘disputed district’. A number of Samiti activists had gathered at the spot.

To protest against this, pro-Kannada activists gathered in large numbers saying that Belagavi had been an integral part of Karnataka and the border issue was a closed chapter. In the melee, activists of both organisations engaged in a wordy duel. The attempts made by authorities of Belagavi City Corporation to remove the dais put up by MES activists, were foiled by a Kannada activist who blackened the face of Dileep Dalavi , a MES leader.

This sparked off protests by the MES activists. On receipt of information, police arrived at the spot and took the Nirmana Vedike activists into custody. Former MES MLA, Manohar Kinekar has slammed the Kannada activists and said this incident has been brought to the notice of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. As a mark of protest, MES will observe ‘Belagavi bandh’ on Tuesday and has requested traders to co-operate with the bandh.

Meanwhile, Belagavi police have decided to step up security in the wake of the bandh call given by the MES.