Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the death of Congress worker Rajashekar Reddy during clashes between Congress and BJP supporters in Ballari, Karnataka. Police sources said forensic and post-mortem examinations indicate that the bullet that struck the 28-year-old was fired from the weapon of a gunman attached to Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy during the violence on Thursday evening.
The post-mortem was conducted at Ballari Medical College and Research Centre, where forensic experts recovered a fragment of a 12 mm single-bore bullet from the victim’s body. According to investigators, the bullet fragment matches ammunition used in firearms seized from the private and official security personnel of the MLA and his close associates.
Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur was suspended with immediate effect on Friday pending an inquiry. Nejjur had taken charge as SP on January 1, a day before the incident.
Following the clash, police seized five firearms belonging to both private and government gunmen of the Congress MLA and placed them under custody at Brucepet police station. Forensic teams compared bullets and other material collected from the scene with the fragment recovered during the post-mortem. Senior police officials said scientific evidence points to the fatal shot having been fired from one of the seized weapons carried by security personnel.
Based on a complaint filed by the BJP, FIRs have now been registered against Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and his supporters. Two separate cases have been booked at Brucepet police station, alleging trespass into the residence of BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy, use of caste-based remarks, and attempt to assault.
Those named in the FIRs include Bharath Reddy, his father Suryanarayan Reddy, his uncle Pratap Reddy, and associates Satish Reddy, Channal Shekhar, Lokesh Avvambhavi, Gangadhar, and others. One case names 41 accused, while the second lists 23.
The violence broke out on Thursday evening after Congress supporters allegedly put up banners outside Janardhana Reddy’s residence in the Avambhavi area ahead of the unveiling of a Valmiki statue scheduled for Saturday. An argument reportedly erupted during the installation of the banners and later escalated into clashes. Janardhana Reddy has alleged that supporters of Bharath Reddy fired four to five rounds during the incident, an allegation denied by the Congress MLA.
Police sources said mobile video clips showing gunmen opening fire in the air and in the direction of Janardhana Reddy’s residence have surfaced on social media and are being examined.
Meanwhile, Rajashekar Reddy’s brother Eshwar Reddy, in a complaint to police, alleged that Janardhana Reddy was responsible for the shooting and claimed that threats were issued following the incident.
Congress MLAs Bharath Reddy and K N Ganesh later visited the deceased worker’s residence to pay their last respects. Rajashekar Reddy was cremated at Harishchandra Ghat on Rupanagudi Road.