Protest against Reddy's attack on Tejpal

Bangalore, April 05: Around two hundred people including several youth and women rights
organisations participated in a protest here against the recent attack on Tejpal Ganesh
responsible for exposing the illegal encroachment of government land by the Reddy brothers
in Bellary.

The protest started at 11 in the morning and continued till one in the afternoon took place
near MG Road opposite the Mahatma Gandhi statue.The protesters accused the police of not
lodging an FIR till now against the Reddy brothers who they said orchestrated the attack on
Mr. Ganesh who has been hospitalised. They also accused the CM and the state
Government of sheilding the Reddy brothers who are both ministers and demanded
immediate action including their sacking.

Mr Ganesh who is the son of the owner of Tumti Iron Ore, Bellary was allegedly beaten up
by goons sent by the Reddy brothers on the 29th of last month while waiting outside a hotel
to meet the Survey of India team set by the Supreme Court to determine whether reserved
forest areas have been encroached by the Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by G
Janardhana Reddy who is also the Tourism Minister.

The organisations participating in the protest included among others the Dalit Panthers of
India, the Press Union, the Radhakrishna Kannada Sangh and included some youth and
women rights organisations. Several media persons were also present. They indulged in
slogan shouting against the Reddy brothers and accused the government of espousing the
naked use of money as well as muscle power.They said they will continue with their protest
in the future if the accused don't admit their crime and appropriate action is not taken
against them.

Ganesh had earlier expressed fear of an attack from the Reddy Brothers - Janardhana and
Karunakara because his four-year-long RTI and court battle has landed their mining empire
in a Supreme Court inquiry.

eom
rahul kumar