A man who was found carrying a machete on stage put up for Ram Navami celebrations in Lingsugur of Raichur district has been arrested by the police.
The man identified as Srinivas Pujari of Vandali village, a worker at Hutti Gold Mines, has been booked under the Arms Act.
He was seen hiding a machete in his clothes on stage from where expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was addressing a gathering.
When Vijayapura MLA Mr. Yatnal was addressing the gathering during the Ram Navami programme, an activist of Sri Ram Sene noticed Srinivas Pujari on the stage hiding a machete in the backside and immediately handed him over to police on security duty.
After taking him into custody, the police immediately took him to police station for questioning.
According to police sources, the accused reasoned that he was carrying the lethal weapon for self-protection as he ran a real estate business apart from working at the Hutti gold mines.
Additional Superintendent of Police Harish conducted an enquiry while Deputy Superintendent of Police Dattatraya Karnad, Inspectors Pundalik Patatar, Balachandra Lakkam, Hosakerappa and Gundu Rrao were present.
The incident caused commotion for a while and subsequently, the programme continued.
A case under Section 25(1A) of the Indian Arms Act has been filed and the accused has been remanded in judicial custody.
Published – April 14, 2025 07:31 pm IST