Tension prevailed at Chintamani in Chickballapur district on Friday following a clash between supporters of the local MLA and a former legislator.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard in the town as it was scheduled to lay the foundation stone for a Indira canteen, a scheme of the State government.
A number of people said to be supporters of former MLA M.C. Sudhakar took exception to the programme when MLA J.K. Krishna Reddy arrived on the spot. Their grievance was that the APMC was not informed about it though land belongs to it. Mr. Sudhakar’ faction had upper hand in the APMC.
While Mr. Sudhakar is a Congress rebel, MLA Mr. Reddy represents Janata Dal (Secular).
This led to heated arguments between the two groups and pelting, causing tension. he police dispersed the crowd preventing the situation going out of control.
“When some people surged ahead to spoil the programme when Mr. Reddy came, the police prevented them and convinced them to solve the issue by talks”, Chinatamani Circle Inspector of Police Byrappa told The Hindu .
The legislator left after performing puja amid commotion, he added. Heavy police bandobast was made following the incident.
“We have planned to start canteen at the APMC yard area as it will help poor people including hamalis at the yard to get food at cheap rates”, Mr. Reddy said.
