Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and district in-charge minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Jindal Airport in Toranagal on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka police have prima facie concluded that the bullet that killed Congress worker Rajashekhar, 28, in clashes in Ballari City on January 1 was fired from the firearm of one of the shooters of Ballari City Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, police sources said.
During the post-mortem of the deceased conducted at Ballari Medical College and Research Center (BMCRC), doctors found a bullet casing embedded in his body. The Ballari police have already recovered five firearms of the militants present during the altercation on Thursday night.
Sources said that the police found a prima facie match between the cartridge found in the body of the deceased and the firearm of one of Mr. Bharath Reddy’s bodyguards. However, only forensic ballistic examination can confirm this, sources said.
“The said gunman is missing and a search is underway for him,” said a senior police officer, expressing confidence that he would be tracked down soon.
There are also several videos of Mr. Bharath Reddy’s shooters firing their pistols in the air, which the police have analysed, sources said.
No SP yet
More than 24 hours after Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur was removed for dereliction of duty on Friday, the district had not posted a new Superintendent of Police by late Saturday evening. The delay in posting a replacement when the district is in the midst of a law and order crisis has raised eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Mr Bharath Reddy and District Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Jindal District Airport in Toranagalu where he was on his way from Sindhanur to Bengaluru. The chief minister also took details of the incident from senior police officials.
Published – 03 Jan 2026 21:34 IST
