Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092155140500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Clash in Ramanagara; elections postponed

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The elections to the posts of president and vice-president of Ramanagara Zilla Panchayat (ZP), scheduled for Thursday, was postponed indefinitely following a clash between the Congress and Janata Dal(Secular) workers.

As tension prevailed in Ramanagara town following the clash, the police clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code. The ban orders will be in force in Ramanagara town till 6 p.m. on Friday, the police said. In view of the bifurcation of the Bangalore Rural district, a separate ZP has been created for the new Ramangara district, comprising Ramanagara, Channapatna, Magadi and Kanakapura taluks. When Sathnur MLA D.K. Shivakumar accompanied the Congress candidates into the ZP office, the Janata Dal(Secular) workers took objection to it, the police said. This led to heated exchanges between the workers of the two parties. They exchanged blows and ransacked the office.

The elections were postponed indefinitely, the police said. There were reports that the Janata Dal(Secular) MLA from Magadi, H.C. Balakrishna, was arrested, but the police denied it.