Ballari clash: Bullet hit chest of Cong worker, gunman was using 12 mm bore

Ballari

Tensions remain high in the historic city of Ballari as it grapples with the aftermath of a violent political clash that claimed the life of a young Congress worker on New Year’s Day. The city continues to remain under heavy security.

Sources in the State Intelligence told blrpost.com that Satish Reddy’s private gunman opened fire during the incident. The gunman has claimed that the shot was fired into the air; however, the bullet struck Congress worker Rajashekhar Reddy in the chest. The firearm used was a 12-bore gun. Police have seized at least five firearms in connection with the incident.

The Internal Security Division (ISD) also examined whether there was a terror angle to the incident. Sources said the preliminary probe ruled out any terror-related links. Police will now investigate whether the fatal bullet originated from the same weapon used by the gunman. A ballistic examination has been ordered to ascertain the facts, and the process is expected to take at least a week.

Investigators will also look into whether multiple rounds were fired during the clash and examine the circumstances that led to the gunfire.

Sources further said that when the melee broke out, Satish Reddy’s gunman drew his weapon and fired. The gunman has maintained that he discharged the firearm in a moment of panic.

The Trigger: banner politics

The sources in the State intelligence told blrpost.com that Satish Reddy’s private gunman shot fire. The gunman claimed that the shot was fired in the air. However, the bullet hit the chest of a Congress worker Rajashekhar Reddy.  He was using a 12 mm bore gun. The police seized at least five guns after the incident.

The Internal Security Division (ISD) also looked into the terror angle in the incident. The sources said the initial probe suggested no terror angle. The police will now probe if the bullet originated from the same gun used by the gunman. The ballistic study will be done on the same to unearth the truth. It may take at least one week to find out. 

The investigation will also look into possible multiple gunfires that occurred during the incident and the cause for the same. 

The sources further said when the melee unfolded Satish Reddy’s gunman took out the gun and fired. He claimed that the shot was fired in panic. 

The Trigger: banner politics

The violence erupted on the evening of January 1, 2026, in the Avambhavi locality. The friction began when supporters of the local Congress MLA, Nara Bharath Reddy, attempted to install banners and posters in front of the residence of BJP leader and Gangawati MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy. The banners were intended to promote a high-profile ceremony for the unveiling of a Valmiki statue, originally scheduled for today, January 3.

Arguments between the two groups quickly escalated from verbal sparring to stone-pelting. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene that lasted for over an hour, during which several vehicles were vandalized and multiple individuals sustained injuries.

The fatality and gunfire

The situation turned lethal when gunshots were fired. Rajashekhar Reddy, a 26-year-old Congress worker, was struck by a bullet and succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to a local hospital.

While police initially fired rounds into the air to disperse the mob, a preliminary forensic report suggested that the fatal bullet came from a private firearm rather than a service weapon. This revelation has turned the investigation toward private security personnel and armed associates present at the scene.

Political fallout and legal action

The state government has taken swift action, registering four separate First Information Reports (FIRs). In a significant move, the police have named G. Janardhana Reddy as the primary accused (A1), with his brother G. Somashekara Reddy and former minister B. Sriramulu is also named in the complaints.

The administrative fallout was equally rapid. The Karnataka government suspended Ballari Superintendent of Police (SP) Pavan Nejjur, who had assumed charge only 24 hours prior to the incident, citing a failure to anticipate and contain the violence.

Current situation

As of Saturday morning, Ballari resembles a fortress with over 1,500 police personnel and Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons patrolling the streets. While the Valmiki statue unveiling has been postponed, the political war of words continues. Congress leaders have called the incident a “murder of democracy,” while BJP leaders claim the event was a pre-planned conspiracy to frame them.