Hubballi, Jan 8 (NationPress) An FIR has been filed against nine individuals at the Keshwapur police station in Hubballi on Thursday concerning the alleged stripping and assault of a female BJP party worker.

The incident gained attention after a video purportedly surfaced on social media on Wednesday, raising serious concerns.

Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to address the media in Bengaluru later today regarding the matter. Hubballi is a significant city within the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency represented by Joshi. The Karnataka BJP has already called for the immediate suspension of officials allegedly involved in the assault of a BJP woman worker in Hubballi.

The FIR has been lodged against Suvarna Kalakuntla, a Congress member of the Hubballi–Dharwad Municipal Corporation, along with seven others, with police charging them with serious offenses, including attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, and rioting.

The case was registered based on a complaint by Mariadas, the brother of the victim, BJP activist Sujatha Handi, regarding an event that allegedly occurred on January 2 in Chalukya Nagar, Hubballi. The accused face charges under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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

According to police sources, the incident is thought to have arisen from a longstanding personal rivalry between two families. BJP activist Sujatha Handi and Congress corporator Suvarna Kalakuntla have reportedly been engaged in ongoing disputes over minor issues for several years, allegedly due to a struggle for influence in the area.

Previously associated with Suvarna Kalakuntla, Sujatha Handi joined the BJP two years ago, intensifying their rivalry. What began as a personal conflict has now escalated into a political issue, leading to the recent incident and subsequent FIR registration.

It is noteworthy that an alleged assault and stripping of a BJP woman worker by police occurred in Hubballi, reportedly linked to a dispute arising from a voter revision exercise. A video of the incident emerged on Wednesday, causing shock and serious concern.

The footage allegedly depicts male police officers assaulting the woman and using vulgar language.

The incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Keshvapur police station in Hubballi. Sources indicate that BJP worker Sujatha Handi, also known as Vijayalaxmi Handi, was reportedly targeted following a complaint lodged against her by Congress corporator Suvarna Kalakuntla.

It is claimed that Sujatha Handi was singled out after she conducted voter mapping as part of the voter list revision process. Angered by this, the Congress corporator allegedly filed a complaint against her at the Keshvapur police station.

The Karnataka Police had dismissed claims by a female BJP worker alleging that she was assaulted and stripped by officers during a dispute related to the voter revision exercise in Hubballi.

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

Meanwhile, the State Women’s Commission remarked that the roles of both the victim and the police should be scrutinized before any comments on the case are made.

After visiting the Keshvapur police station in Hubballi, Police Commissioner Shashikumar stated, “She assaulted four of our female staff members and bit one female officer on her abdomen. The source of the video recording remains unknown. We will investigate comprehensively.”

The Karnataka BJP has demanded the immediate suspension of officials allegedly involved in the assault on the woman.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra emphasized that a shocking incident has transpired in Hubballi, where a BJP woman worker from the Dalit community was allegedly stripped and assaulted.

“If law and order still exist in the state, and if the Home Minister holds any authority, he must promptly suspend the involved officials,” Vijayendra insisted.

He called for action against all officials who, allegedly acting under the direction of Congress leaders, assaulted and stripped the Dalit woman, who is also a BJP worker.