BJP leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was booked by the police for his alleged involvement in violence in Bijapur city on May 26, was arrested from a hotel in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on Wednesday.
He was described by the police as the prime culprit for the violence during a celebratory procession here after Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister.
The police were on the look out for him as he was facing non-bailable cognizable offence. A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police of Basavanabagewadi taluk M.Y. Baldandi arrested him.
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Superintendent of Police Ramnivas Sepat told presspersons here on Wednesday that three persons were arrested along with Mr. Yatnal. They were Yellappa, Parashuram Kenganal and Umesh Kore.
Mr. Sepat said Mr. Yatnal’s name figured prominently in 19 of the 30 cases filed in connection with the violence. He had been booked under nine sections of the IPC, including inciting religious sentiments, rioting, provocation with intent to cause riot, unlawful assembly and criminal intimidation. Later in the day, a local court remanded Mr. Yatnal in judicial custody till June 7. He was taken to Hindalga jail in Belgaum.
Police personnel had been deployed in various parts of the city, mainly in sensitive areas, to maintain law and order after the arrests.
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Mr. Sepat said that the situation in the city was normal.
However, fearing trouble many shops in the city had downed shutters.