Justice for Sowjanya activist fatally knocked down by car of Dharmasthala employee

Belthangady: Tension prevailed at a place called Pijakkala Nekkilu near Belthangady on November 20, Wednesday when hundreds of angry people began to protest against a Bolero driver whose vehicle fatally knocked down a young bike rider named Dinesh Gowda who had identified himself with the Justice for Sowjanya agitation.

There was tension in the air for hours together as the agitating villagers argued that ‘this was not a mere accident, but a pre-planned murder.’ The agitators even did not allow the police to shift the body to the ambulance and had pelted stones at the ambulance as well as the Bolero vehicle damaging them. Additional police forces which rushed to the spot had to resort to a lathi charge to quell the mob.

It is learnt the Bolero vehicle was driven by Balakrishna Poojari, a supervisor of the agriculture division of the Dharmasthala Rural Development Project and also a temple staff. As per the complaint lodged by the family of the deceased youth, the police have registered a case of murder through deliberate accident against Balakrishna Poojari. Latest reports say he has been arrested.In fact, this very same Balakrishna Poojari was earlier facing the accusation of trying to hush up the Sowjanya rape and murder case by forcibly trying to admit Sowjanya’s parents to hospital soon after the incident took place.

Moreover, with the deceased youth active in the pro-Sowjanya agitation, this accident has given room for suspicion resulting in protest by thousands of people. Even Balakrishna Poojari fleeing the place of the mishap soon after the mishap, further agitated locals.
Belthangady MLA Vasanth Bangera and Prajaprabhutva Vedike President Mahesh Shetty Timarody who arrived tried to pacify the agitation. However, BJP leader Prabhaker Gowda who arrived at the spot had to face the wrath of the agitators.Police have registered a case of murder as per the complaint lodged by a relative of the deceased, Siddappa Gowda that this was a systematic murder.

In the meantime, BJP leader Prabhaker Gowda who was assaulted has lodged acomplaint with Belthangady police alleging that he was assaulted by Mahesh Shetty supporters.Even Prakash, the driver of the ambulance of SDM Hospital has lodged a complaintthat miscreants deliberately stoned the ambulance.

Via The Canara Times
Via The Canara TimesVia The Canara TimesVia The Canara TimesVia The Canara Times