Belagavi: Eight booked for alleged assault on seer

Eight persons were booked for allegedly assaulting Siddabasava Swami, seer of Hunasikolla mutt, at Yamakanamaradi in Belagavi district on Friday (July 3) night.

The complaint names eight persons, including Anand Medar, Ratna Medar, Praveen Medar and Manjunath. It said the accused got into an altercation with the seer after he objected to their car being parked outside the mutt gate.

The argument intensified, with the accused verbally abusing the seer and physically assaulting him, the complaint further stated.

Maruti Ashtagi, BJP leader, alleged that the attackers were followers of Satish Jarkiholi, Minister and Congress leader. “The police are not acting tough with the attackers as they are afraid of the Minister’s clout. They need to be strictly acted upon,’’ Mr. Ashtagi said.

Satish Jarkiholi has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. “It is common for BJP leaders to blame us for every offence that occurs in our constituency. This tendency increases before elections. I get blamed for the death of cattle and dogs,’’ he said, adding, “The police have registered a case and are investigating. The truth will come out. As for the dispute regarding parking space in front of the mutt, it is for the villagers, the seer and the families in the neighbourhood to resolve it,’’ he said.