Police thwart Shiv Sena bid to enter Karnataka border

BELAGAVI: Days after Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray made controversial remarks on the border dispute, police prevented Shiv Sena members from entering the state to protest the hoisting of a Kannada flag on Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) premises.
Tension prevailed for some time at Shinolli checkpost after hundreds of members gathered. However, police were prepared as they had information about the protest.Cops drove them back to Shinolli village in Kolhapur district.
DCP (law and order) Vikram Amte said the protesters reached the checkpost at 11.30am. “Security was already beefed up to stop them. A few agitators demanded that they be allowed to protest in front of BCC. Officials did not relent, which led to an argument,” he said.
Some members reportedly pushed cops, including Belagavi Rural ACP Ganapati G. But the DCP denied the incident, saying “there was no manhandling of police by Sena members.”
The protesters raised slogans that Nippani, Belagavi and Karwar were parts of Maharashtra. After some time, they returned to Shinolli. Sources said they will stay back at the village on Thursday night and discuss the further course of action.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) activists had planned a protest in front of BCC, demanding removal of the flag that was hoisted in December.
Belagavi deputy commissioner MG Hiremath met the MES members and said the flag cannot be removed as it was hoisted in Karnataka. He then asked them to meet him on January 28.
Kannada activist Ashok Chandaragi blamed politicians, who seek to appease Marathas for their gains, for the entire episode. He urged chief minister BS Yediyurappa to appoint a border-incharge minister and bring the issue to its logical end.