K'taka: Prime petitioner against Reddys assaulted

Bellary, Mar 29: Tumti Iron Ore owner Tapal Ganesh, on whose plea the Supreme Court suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh, was on Monday, Mar 29, attacked by an eight-member gang in Bellary.

Police said Ganesh and two of his brothers were attacked when they were waiting outside a hotel here to meet the officials of the Survey of India team set up by Supreme Court.

The team was formed to see if the reserved forest areas have been encroached by the Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by G Janardhana Reddy.

Attackers armed with sticks also beat up four media personnel, before fleeing the spot in a car, added the police.

The police later shifted the injured mine owners to a hospital and are investigating the incident.

Ganesh is a third-generation miner who is fighting a battle against Obalapuram Mining, owned by the infamous Reddy brothers - Janardhana and Karunakara.

His mine lies on the Karnataka side of the border while the Reddy brothers' mine on the Andhra side - both adjoining.

Ganesh had filed a police complaint in 2006 alleging that Reddy brothers were encroaching on his mine and later filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2009.

The Supreme Court had on Mar 22 suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and ordered a survey team to examine the allegations and submit an interim report within two weeks.

The case will be taken up for next hearing on Apr 9.

ANI