Clash in Mandya village over encroachment drive

Mandya: Tension prevailed for a while at Arakere in Srirangapatna on Thursday when Congress functionary and former MLA Rameshbabu allegedly attacked the driver of an earthmover even as Congress and JD(S) workers engaged in a pitched battle over clearing an encroachment the village.
There is simmering dispute between Congress and JD(S) workers over taking up road widening work. JD(S) MLA Ravindra Srikantaiah is in favour of road widening work that aims to convert the highway between Mysuru and Kottati into a four-lane stretch.In a meeting held between officers of concerned departments a fortnight ago, it was resolved to clear the encroachment in the village.
Accordingly, PWD officers, with the help of police and other departments, started the encroachment drive. While a JCB vehicle was bulldozing the illegal structures, Rameshbabu and his supporters tried to stop the work. They started throwing stones on the vehicle and officers. Meanwhile, Rameshbabu caught hold of the driver and beat him up in front of police personnel. It was only after a while that police personnel went to the rescue of the driver.
Cases and counter cases have been registered by Congress and JD(S) workers. Police force has been deployed in the village.