DK Shivakumar's arrest: Vokkaliga community hold massive protest in Bengaluru

The Vokkaliga community members, several state Congress leaders and MLAs and several other leaders, addressed protesters at National College Ground here, in a major demonstration in show of support for the Congress leader DK Shivakumar. Shivakumar was arrested on September 4 by the Enforcement Directorate after prolonged questioning in money laundering charges.

Bengaluru(Karnataka): Leaders and supporters of politicaly dominant Vokkaliga community are holding a major demonstration in show of support for the Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in money laundering charges.

According to reports, different organisations of the Vokkaliga community are assembled in the state capital and the police have issued travel advisory for commuters.

Besides the community members, several state Congress leaders and MLAs including Krishna Byre Gowda, Sowmya Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, former MLAs Chaluvaraya Swamy, Narendra Swamy, Balakrishna, former MP VS Ugrappa and several other leaders, addressed protestors at National College Ground here.

The Congress leader was arrested on September 4 by the Enforcement Directorate after prolonged questioning in money laundering charges.

As many as 5,000 Vokkaligas have gathered at the National College Grounds to take part in the protest rally to freedom park, against DK Shivakumar's arrest.

Also Supporters of D K Shivakumar and his parliamentarian brother D K Suresh from Ramanagar and Kanakapura are coming in large numbers in private vehicles and buses.

Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said that an additional 550 home guards and supervising officials will monitor footage of 500 CCTV cameras installed along the route of the rally.

"As many as 20 officials of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police have been deployed to supervise the security arrangements," Rao said.

“Despite the protest being organised on the first working day after a public holiday, we have granted permission for the rally solely because the issue is an emotional one and we have placed trust in the organisers,” said Rao.

A Karnataka Special Reserve Police (KSRP) battalion is positioned at the Minerva Circle to check on any possible violence during the protest rally.