Ullal: Verbal altercation ensues between cops and activists over alleged manhandling of BJP Yuva Morcha leader

Team Udayavani, Jun 20, 2024, 6:17 PM IST

Ullal: A heated altercation erupted between the police and BJP Yuva Morcha activists during a protest organized by the Mangaluru Mandal BJP against the fuel price hike by the Congress government in the state.

The BJP Mangaluru Mandal Yuva Morcha President, Murali Konaje, was allegedly manhandled and dragged by Ullal Station Officer H.N. Balakrishna when BJP activists attempted to block the national highway. This led to a brief heated argument between BJP activists and the police.

The protest was held on Thursday under the Thokkottu Junction flyover by the BJP Mangaluru Mandal against the state Congress government’s recent announcement of increasing sales taxes on petrol and diesel. Prominent BJP leaders, including former MLA Jayaram Shetty, Santosh Rai Boliyar, K. Ravindra Shetty, Dinesh Amtoor, Mahesh Jogi, Mandal In-charge President Hemant Shetty Deralakatte, and Dhanalakshmi Gatti, criticized the state government’s price hike policy in their speeches.

Following the meeting, BJP activists symbolically attempted to block the national highway. Inspector Balakrishna, who was on duty, intervened, stating that there were orders from higher authorities to take legal action against blocking the highway.

During this, Ullal Station Officer Balakrishna reportedly grabbed Youth Morcha President Murali Konaje by his shirt collar and dragged him to the side of the highway.

This incident sparked a verbal clash between the Yuva Morcha activists and the police officer.

ACP Ravish Naik of Mangaluru South Subdivision soon intervened and brought the situation under control after discussing it with key BJP leaders.

Activists questioned their leaders, asking if this was the fate of their Youth Morcha leader, what would be the fate of the other activists.