Language Dispute Sparks Protests and Tensions in Belagavi

Protests erupted in Belagavi as Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members rallied against attacks on local transport staff over language disputes. The incident involved a bus conductor attacked for not speaking Marathi, leading to arrests and political attention. Authorities arrested a key activist to maintain order.

Tensions flared in Belagavi as Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the assault of a local bus conductor amid ongoing linguistic tensions between pro-Kannada and pro-Marathi groups.

The altercation occurred when Mahadevappa Hukkeri, a conductor for the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), was attacked for not speaking Marathi. This incident follows a complaint lodged against Hukkeri by passengers claiming indecent remarks.

In response, DCP Belagavi Rohan Jagadeesh confirmed the preventive custody of Praveen Shetty, a prominent activist, to quell disorder. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy denounced charges against the conductor as bogus, amidst arrests of five suspects connected to the assault.