What Sparked the Controversial Assault of a BJP Woman Worker in Hubballi?

Incident Overview

Hubballi: A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against nine individuals at the Keshwapur police station in Hubballi concerning the alleged assault and stripping of a female BJP party member.

The situation escalated after a video surfaced on social media on Wednesday, prompting widespread concern.

Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, is set to address the media in Bengaluru later today regarding this matter. Hubballi is a significant city within the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency that Joshi represents. The Karnataka BJP has called for the immediate suspension of officials involved in the incident.

Police reports indicate that the FIR includes charges against Suvarna Kalakuntla, a Congress member of the Hubballi–Dharwad Municipal Corporation, along with seven others, facing serious allegations such as attempted murder, criminal intimidation, and rioting.

The FIR was initiated following a complaint from Mariadas, the brother of the victim, BJP activist Sujatha Handi, concerning an event that allegedly occurred on January 2 in Chalukya Nagar, Hubballi. The accused are charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

This police action followed protests by BJP members demanding accountability from Congress corporator Suvarna Kalakuntla, led by former BJP MLA Seema Masuti, Mayor Jyoti Patil, and Deputy Mayor Santosh Chauhan.

Sources within the police suggest that the incident may have roots in a longstanding personal feud between two families. Sujatha Handi and Suvarna Kalakuntla have reportedly clashed over minor issues for years, likely due to a struggle for local influence.

Sujatha Handi was previously affiliated with Suvarna Kalakuntla but switched to the BJP two years ago, which is believed to have intensified their rivalry. What began as a personal conflict has now escalated into a political issue, leading to the recent FIR.

It is worth noting that a previous incident involving the alleged assault and stripping of a BJP woman worker by police in Hubballi was linked to a dispute over a voter revision exercise. A video of this incident emerged on Wednesday, causing shock and concern.

The footage reportedly depicts male police officers assaulting the woman while using inappropriate language.

The incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Keshvapur police station in Hubballi. According to sources, BJP worker Sujatha Handi, also known as Vijayalaxmi Handi, was allegedly attacked following a complaint made against her by Congress corporator Suvarna Kalakuntla.

It is claimed that Sujatha Handi was targeted after she engaged in voter mapping as part of the voter list revision process, which reportedly angered the Congress corporator, leading to her complaint at the Keshvapur police station.

The Karnataka Police previously dismissed claims made by a female BJP worker alleging assault and stripping by officers during the voter revision dispute in Hubballi.

In response to the allegations of assault and stripping by both male and female police personnel, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar refuted the claims, asserting that the woman "had stripped herself."

The State Women’s Commission has stated that both the victim's and the police's roles need to be thoroughly examined before any conclusions can be drawn.

After visiting the Keshvapur police station, Police Commissioner Shashikumar remarked, "She assaulted four of our female staff members and bit one officer on her abdomen. I am unsure who recorded the video. We will investigate all aspects comprehensively."

The Karnataka BJP has reiterated its demand for the immediate suspension of the officials involved in the alleged assault.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra expressed outrage over the incident, highlighting that a BJP woman worker from the Dalit community was reportedly assaulted and stripped.

"If law and order is to be maintained in the state, the Home Minister must act swiftly to suspend the officials involved," Vijayendra insisted.

He emphasized that action should be taken against all officials who allegedly assaulted and stripped the Dalit woman, who is also a BJP member.