Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy addresses a media conference at his residence in Ballari on Wednesday, as former minister B. Sriramulu looks on. PHOTO: The Hindu (Special arrangement)
Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) demanded the arrest of Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, claiming that video footage showed a gunman linked to Bharath Reddy firing at close range and killing Congress activist Rajasekhar during a group clash in front of his house in Ballari on January 1.
Addressing a joint press conference at his residence in Ballari along with former Minister B. Sriramulu, Mr. Janardhan Reddy said the violence was the result of a ‘planned conspiracy’ rather than a spontaneous clash.
To support his claim, he played a video clip recorded by one of his supporters, which he said showed Mr. Bharath Reddy’s gunman firing from behind at Rajasekhar during the second phase of the violence later that night. Citing what he described as ‘clear visual evidence’, he demanded the immediate arrest of Bharath Reddy on murder charges.
‘Firing was deliberate’
Displaying the footage, Mr. Janardhan Reddy alleged that the firing was deliberate and not accidental. “The video shows Rajasekhar throwing stones at my residence and then running away after the police began beating him. It was at that moment that the bullet struck him from behind. This is not a misfire. It was intentional,” he said.
Claiming that the violence occurred in two phases, one earlier in the evening led by Bharath Reddy’s close associate Satish Reddy and another under the leadership of Bharath Reddy himself around 9:30 pm, Janardhan Reddy alleged that the fatal firing took place during the latter.
He also alleged that the original plan was to kill Chanal Shekhar, a Congress activist from the Lingayat community, and put the blame him and the BJP to trigger large-scale violence and polarisation.
Backing the claims, Mr. Sriramulu questioned the police for not arresting Bharath Reddy despite what he described as strong evidence.
‘Selective action of police’
Mr. Sriramulu also accused the police of selective action, claiming that notices had been issued to several BJP workers while those linked to the Congress leadership were being spared.
Both leaders demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI and announced plans for a large protest rally in Ballari on January 17.
The violence reportedly broke out over the installation of banners for the unveiling of a Maharshi Valmiki statue. The clash involved stone-pelting and firing, resulting in the death of Rajasekhar on January 01, 2026.
Published – January 07, 2026 06:47 pm IST
