G Janardhana Reddy supporters force bandh in Bellary

Supporters of the former Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy today pelted stones at two government offices and forced closure of several shops during the bandh call given by them in the district to protest the arrest of their leader by CBI.

Reddy supporters went on a stone pelting spree, damaging window panes of the Regional Transport Office and Forest Department office near Royal Circle, police said.

They also forced shops and business establishments on Cowl Bazar and Bangalore Road area, they added.

Some staff members of the two government offices were injured in the stone pelting, police said but could not give the number of those injured.

A supporter of Reddy, whom the police identified as Sanganakallu Sunkaiah tried to commit self immolation pouring kerosene on his body, but police foiled the attempt and took him into custody.

Eight platoons of state Reserve police and ten platoons of District Armed Reserve to keep vigil in the city, police said.

Janardhana and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, who is also the Managing Director of Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) were arrested by CBI yesterday here and were produced before a court in Hyderabad, which remanded them to 14-day judicial custody in connection with cases filed against them over illegal mining.