Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara stated on Sunday that the state government is actively evaluating the transfer of the investigation into the deadly Ballari violence of January 1 to the elite Criminal Investigation Department (CID), emphasizing that he plans to consult Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shortly to finalize the decision amid mounting political pressure for a thorough probe.
Parameshwara disclosed that five firearms recovered from two suspected gunmen at the clash site have been forwarded for detailed forensic and ballistic examination, with initial inputs from the Additional Director General of Police confirming the fatal bullet was discharged from a private weapon rather than any police-issued firearm, as experts continue to pinpoint the precise source.
Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party's insistent calls for the swift arrest of those responsible, the Home Minister stressed the imperative of following due legal processes, clarifying that any detentions or charges can proceed only upon completion of a comprehensive investigation, with officials directed to expedite their findings.
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On former minister G Janardhana Reddy's formal request for enhanced Z-category security following the unrest, Parameshwara noted that the communication has not yet been received at his office, though suitable protective measures would be assessed post-inquiry; he observed that the law and order disruption notably intensified upon Reddy's entry into Ballari, a correlation now under active police scrutiny, while confirming that the suspended Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur, injured during the transfer process, is recuperating in Bengaluru.
The confrontation ignited on January 1 evening when supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy sought to install banners near Janardhana Reddy's Havambavi residence for a Valmiki statue unveiling, provoking opposition from Reddy's camp that escalated into stone-throwing, gunfire, and the tragic death of a Congress worker; cases have been filed against 11 persons, including Janardhana Reddy, his brother Somashekar Reddy, and former minister B Sriramulu, as Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi characterized the episode as a minor yet regrettable lapse in crowd management, now fully contained with accountability to be determined solely through the forthcoming police inquiry.
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