Belagavi: Police deny permission for ‘Marathi Mahamelav’, dismantle stage

Belagavi: The police refused permission for the ‘Marathi Mahamelav’ organized by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) here, coinciding with the beginning of the Karnataka Legislature winter session.

Senior police officials including ADGP Alok Kumar and Belagavi City DCP Ravindra Gadadi, on Monday, visited the site of the proposed congregation at Vaccine Depot Ground in the city and vacated the platform erected there.

As prohibitory orders under IPC section 144 are in place in many parts of the city, the grand meeting organized by MES seems to have come to a halt. The police officials warned the organizers not to hold any public meetings citing the same reason.

Speaking to media, ADGP Alok Kumar said that the MES had planned to hold the convention, and had applied for permission at the Tilakvadi police station. However, in view of preventing any law and order disruption during the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature, the permission has been denied.

The ADGP also warned that legal action will be taken against anyone holding such a mela without permission in Belagavi.