MANGALURU: BJP Yuva Morcha taluk president Shashiraj has been arrested in a raid conducted on an illegal stone quarry by Belthangady tahsildar and local police on Saturday.
According to Belthangady police, following a complaint by Belthangady tahsildar Prithvi Sanikam, they conducted a raid at Mudala in Melanthabettu village and arrested Shashiraj. Police have also seized explosives, stones, lorries and live bullets.
On enquiry, the labourers at the mining spot revealed that the quarry was run by Shashiraj and a person named Pramod Ujire who is also a BJP worker. Both the accused have been booked under sections 9B(1)(b) of the Explosives Act of 1884 and column 5 of the Explosives Substance Act of 1908.
Shashiraj who is also a rowdy sheeter was produced before the court and he has been sent to 15 days of judicial custody. Pramod managed to escape from the spot during the raid.
BJP MLA abuses cops
Meanwhile, Belthangady BJP MLA Harish Poonja along with his supporters sat on dharna and condemned the arrest of Shashiraj.
In a video posted by him on social media, he can be seen abusing the police personnel for arresting Shashiraj and also attempting to pressurize the police to release him.
"You have arrested an innocent and we cannot tolerate such harassment. Is the police station your father's property? We cannot tolerate cops acting on the behest of Congress leaders,” he is seen abusing the station inspector and other personnel as he held a dharna inside the police station on Saturday night.