Tension escalated at Kanaganakuppa village of Manchenahalli taluk in Chikkaballapur district after a protest against a road construction project turned violent, leaving a villager with a bullet injury.
The incident occurred during a demonstration by villagers Wednesday morning against the construction of a road to a stone-crusher site, with the protesters arguing that it would cut through agricultural land and disrupt the ecological balance in the area. The villagers had been protesting peacefully for the past few days, but the situation took a drastic turn when the crusher owner, Sakalesh, arrived at the site with earth-moving equipment to begin the road work.
According to witnesses, a heated argument broke out between the villagers and Sakalesh, who is a close associate of a BJP functionary. During the altercation, Sakalesh claimed someone in the crowd hurled a stone at him, causing a head injury. In retaliation, he opened fire at the protesters, hitting their leader Ravi in the knee, the witnesses said. They stated that after Ravi fell, Sakalesh kicked him, before being restrained by other villagers.
Ravi was rushed to the General Hospital in Chikkaballapur for treatment. Meanwhile, the villagers refuted the stone-pelting allegation, saying the protest had been peaceful until Sakalesh brandished his pistol and dared anyone to approach him.
The crusher site, located about 1km from the village, is also close to two temples. The villagers argued that the setting up of the crusher would disturb the sanctity and environment around the places of worship. Ravi stated that his protest was aimed at protecting the local ecology and preserving the atmosphere surrounding the religious sites.
According to locals, the crusher licence is reportedly linked to a prominent BJP politician, and the site has been leased out to Sakalesh, who is from Bengaluru. Manchenahalli police have arrested Sakalesh and launched an investigation into the incident.
Chikkaballapur SP Kushal Chousky said the 9mm pistol has been seized.
Photo caption: A screengrab of Sakalesh at the protest site

MUMBAI: Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD), along with the Bebaak Collective, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), and Wisdom Foundation, have strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack targeting tourists near Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley.
IMSD convenor Javed Anand, in a statement, said that Muslims join all fellow Indians in offering their heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. He also called upon the central and state governments to ensure urgent and adequate compensation for the loss of precious lives and proper treatment for the injured.
According to some reports, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the strike.
“We hope that the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended, brought to justice, and handed severe punishments,” the statement said.

IMSD has consistently opposed the targeting of innocent civilians anywhere, irrespective of the justification offered for such savagery.
The terror attack strikes at the heart of the Valley’s tourism centre, Pahalgam, raising serious concerns about the so-called “return of normalcy.”
The latest mass killing raises disturbing questions about the failure of security agencies in providing adequate cover in and around Pahalgam—an obvious target for terrorist groups, Anand noted.
“We demand a thorough inquiry into this grievous security lapse, accountability for those responsible, and necessary corrective action,” the statement urged.
Meanwhile, amid this moment of grief and anguish, the statement highlighted the humanity displayed by average Kashmiri Muslims. On Wednesday (April 23), the entire Valley observed a complete bandh—shopkeepers, traders, and transporters all joined in. Reports have emerged from across Kashmir of mosques opening their doors to assist distraught tourists, along with widespread condemnations from religious leaders describing the attack as one on humanity itself.
Kashmiri newspapers, both editorially and visually, conveyed that this was a day of mourning for the lives lost. IMSD urged all media, especially television channels, to report developments objectively and avoid provocative coverage.
“We call upon all Indians, irrespective of religion, to emulate the fine example of communal harmony displayed by ordinary Kashmiri Muslims,” they urged.