BANGALORE: Row over construction of Ambedkar Bhavan led to a clash between two groups, in which a JD(S) leader was shot dead and around 10 others were injured. The incident was reported near Marasuru Gate on Chandapura-Anekal Road on the outskirts of the city on Sunday at about 9.30 am.Tension prevailed in the area as the followers of the deceased leader set a SUV on fire and pelted stones at four buses. They also forced shopkeepers to shutdown. As they staged a protest condemning the murder, vehicular movement on both sides of Hosur Road was thrown out of gear for a few hours.Ramesh Babu alias Babu, 30, the JD(S) leader was gunned down in the incident. A resident of Marasuru, Babu was recently elected as taluk president of Reddy Jana Sangha. He was an agriculturist and a realtor. The accused has been identified as Krishnappa alias Kothi Krishna, 35, also a resident of Marasuru. Krishnappa, a former history-sheeter, had turned leader for a Dalit orgnisation.According to the police, there were plans to construct Ambedkar Bhavan at Marasuru Gate on a plot that belonged to a relative of Babu. This issue had raised differences between Babu and Krishnappa. On Sunday morning, Krishnappa along with his associates went to inspect the spot. Meanwhile, Babu and his supporters reached the spot and objected the inspection saying they would not let them construct Ambedkar Bhavan there. “Krishnappa stated that they had obtained court permission for the construction and challenged Babu that he would see that the Bhavan is built on the same plot. It led to a verbal duel between the two parties and Babu’s followers allegedly attacked Krishnappa with lethal weapons. Krishanappa, in a bid to save his life, opened three rounds of fire from his licensed revolver at Babu. The latter was struck by two bullets in his abdomen and succumbed on the spot. Ten other people sustained injuries in the clash,” the police stated. Raged over their leader’s death, Babu’s followers attacked Krishnappa with lethal weapons and set ablaze his SUV. Krishnappa was given first aid and was shifted to Victoria Hospital. Further, Babu’s supporters ransacked Krishnappa’s house and set it on fire. They staged a protest and pelted stones at vehicles on Chandapura-Anekal Road. Three BMTC buses were damaged and a Tata Sumo was set on fire, police said. Localites alleged that despite Krishnappa being a notorious rowdy, police had issued a licenced revolver. Police maintained that Krishnappa was given the licence for self protection as he faced threat to life.
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