Congress councillor stabbed in Kolar’s Srinivasapura, JD(S) rules out political rivalry

The Srinivasapura rural police have filed an attempted murder case against four unidentified men. No arrests have been made.

“There was an argument at a polling booth in Srinivasapura on the day of polling. And its repercussion occurred on Thursday night,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Central Range BK Ravikanthe Gowda told South First.

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Political rivalry: Police

“Four unidentified men said to be belonging to a political group, stabbed a man from another party from behind and fled away. Our men have taken up a case of attempt to murder and are on the lookout for the suspects,” the officer added.

The police said the argument occurred near booth 147 at the Hyder Ali Mohalla Urdu School on Chinthamani Road. The argument led to a minor clash between Tajmull and a few JD(S) workers, and the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

Later, after the polling, both groups gathered near the school and raised slogans in support of their respective leaders. They also engaged in bursting crackers near the school and while it seemed the situation would go out of control, the police once again used mild force.

The next day, Tajmull was stabbed. He was initially shifted to Srinivasapura Government Hospital, and later taken to Kolar, the police said.

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JD(S) refutes political angle

Meanwhile, JD(S) sources told South First the incident was not political. They said the personal rivalry between two individuals escalated and resulted in the stabbing.

Kolar’s Srinivasapura is a JD(S) stronghold and GK Venkatashiva Reddy of the party is contesting against Congress candidate KR Ramesh Kumar. The BJP candidate is Gunjuru Srinivas Reddy.

Srinivasapura was once notorious for political clashes.