Date:16/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/16/stories/2005121621650300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress, JD(S) workers clash at Hoskote

Staff Reporter

Bangalore-Chennai National Highway blocked for sometime

BANGALORE: Tension prevailed at Hoskote in Bangalore Rural district on Thursday after the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress workers clashed ahead of the panchayat elections scheduled for December 23.

Inspector-General of Police (Central Range) B.G. Jyothi Prakash Mirji told The Hindu that the workers of the two parties clashed on Wednesday night at Gaddenahalli. The workers of the two parties clashed while the Congress workers were returning to Hoskote after canvassing at Gaddenahalli. One group threw stones at an autorickshaw by which the rival group was travelling, Mr. Mirji said.

Condemning the incident and demanding additional security, hundreds of Congress workers on Thursday blocked the Bangalore-Chennai Highway at Hoskote. There was tension in the town following the "rasta roko". While there were reports that the workers threw stones at passing vehicles, Mr. Mirji denied it. He said the vehicles were diverted to other roads. He dismissed as false the reports that Congress MLA from Hoskote M.T.B. Nagaraj was attacked by the Janata Dal (Secular) workers at the meeting of Congress activists at Gaddenahalli.

The Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of the Bangalore Rural district on Thursday held a meeting of the local officials to discuss security, Mr. Mirji added.