BJP party workers on Monday called for a bandh in Karnataka’s Hosadurga after a BJP MLA made an attempt to set himself on fire.
Late on Sunday night, Hosadurga BJP MLA Goolihatti D Shekar, who sat down in protest outside the Hosadurga Police Station, attempted to immolate himself. MLA Shekar poured petrol over himself and planned to set himself ablaze. However, his supporters and the police stopped him from taking the drastic step.
Shekar had poured petrol over his eye in the process and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where is is undergoing treatment for his eye.
On Sunday, the Hosadurga police had seized a truck of sand near Madakere Lake. Hosadurga police had booked the truck driver for illegal sand mining.
MLA Shekar, who had rallied behind the truck driver, stated that the sand was bought legally and was being transported to Hosadurga for the construction of a temple.
Sources in the BJP say that MLA Shekar had called the police and informed them about the alleged misunderstanding.
“The truck belonged to one of the MLAs followers. We have been cracking down on illegal sand mining for a while. We are not targeting people for political motives,” Hosdurga police told TNM.
The police have registered a case against MLA Shekar under section 309 (attempted suicide) of the IPC.
Angered by this, BJP workers staged a protest in Hosadurga and called for a bandh. Around 10 am, BJP workers went on a protest march on TB Road and closed the shutters of the shops.