A political controversy has erupted in Hubballi after a local BJP worker alleged she was physically assaulted and her clothes were stripped off by police personnel from the Keshwapur station. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, is linked to a complaint filed by Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla and revolves around a dispute during a voter list revision exercise.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
The BJP worker stated that the altercation stemmed from their presence with officials conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the Keshwapur area on Tuesday. She claimed that supporters of Corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla had objected to their involvement. The worker's serious allegation is that Keshwapur police assaulted her and stripped off her clothes during the subsequent incident.
However, the police version presents a starkly different account. Officials stated that when two police personnel attempted to arrest the woman, she resisted arrest, grabbed their mobile phones, and called for other female party workers. Police claim she herself stripped off her clothes and insisted that other women record videos on their phones. They added that both parties have filed formal complaints and counter-complaints.
Root of the Conflict: Voter List Revision
Corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla provided context, stating the issue began with Booth Level Officer (BLO) Nandini Kulkarni. Kallakuntla argued that the BLO should work independently or call agents from all political parties during the SIR. Instead, the BLO was allegedly accompanying BJP workers, which prompted objections from local citizens. Kallakuntla said they had already complained about the BLO's conduct to the HDMC Commissioner on Saturday.
Further complicating the matter, police revealed that a citizen named Prashant Bommajji filed a complaint on Sunday night. Bommajji alleged he was assaulted by the same BJP worker and others for questioning why BJP workers were present with the BLO during the revision work.
High-Level Police Review
The incident has prompted a swift response from senior police officials. Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar, along with DCPs Mahanand Nandagavi and C.R. Raveesha, rushed to the Keshwapur police station to personally review the situation. Commissioner Shashikumar has stated that he will brief the media once the verification process is fully concluded, indicating the sensitivity of the case.
The event has escalated tensions in the area, highlighting the often-volatile intersection of political party activities and administrative duties like voter list revision. The conflicting narratives from the BJP worker, the Congress corporator, and the police point to a complex dispute that authorities are now tasked with unraveling.
