Inquiry ordered into attack on Somanna

BANGALORE: Home Minister R Ashok said he has ordered an inquiry into the attack on Housing Minister V Somanna at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday. Ashok, who had a detailed discussion with Bangalore Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji and other officers, said, “The man identified as B S Prasad is a resident of Sanjeevininagar. There were no weapons with him and he was not drunk, as being projected in some sections of the media. We will unearth the motive after investigations. The entire episode has been recorded in the CCTVs.” Giving details of the incident, Somanna said he finished meeting officials and came out of the chamber to attend to a number of people who had gathered in front of his office. “Even as I was talking to a person, this man immediately took out his footwear and hit me. I was shocked. Everyone of us, including the police and gunman and people, were caught unawares. The man was caught immediately and handed over to the police.” Ashok said that the man who hit Somanna with a slipper is the son of late Basavaraju and hails from Tyamagondlu, near Tumkur.  Prasad had unsuccessfully contested as an independent candidate from Chennapatna  and Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituencies.