Tension prevailed in Malmaruti Police Station in Belagavi for some time when some residents staged a protest against the police for interrogating a youth on the charge of assaulting another. The police picked up 23-year-old Musthaq Ahmed on the charge of assault and arson. However, this was seen as a politically motivated move by some residents of the area, as Mushtaq Ahmed was also facing the charge of hatching a conspiracy to set fire to a police vehicle three years ago.
The residents said that the police had acted on the directions of an MLA and had brought the youth to the station. They demanded the immediate release of the youth.
Meanwhile, police officers spoke to the protesters and told them that this was not an arrest and that he was summoned for questioning. The crowd dispersed later.