Cong leader, 70 others held in Mysore

New Delhi Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and 70 others were taken into custody at Jaipura near Mysore on Saturday evening.

Trouble began when Siddaramaiah and his supporters staged a dharna after he was not allowed to lay the foundation stone for a building to upgrade the primary health centre in Jaipura.

The police asked Siddaramaiah and others to disperse citing the prohibitory orders in force. However, when they refused to budge, they were arrested.

JD-S workers contended that the Chief Minister had to perform foundation laying ceremony and Siddaramaiah, a former JD-S leader, was violating the protocol.

Soon after the arrests, which were made for the alleged violation of prohibitory orders, Congress leaders staged a demonstration in front of the office of Superintendent of Police and District Armed Reserve police headquarters.

Siddaramaiah's supporters also came out in protest and pelted stones on passing vehicles.