BELAGAVI: The Belagavi police has booked 306 people who participated in a rally organised by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen for violating Covid-19 protocols. The rally was led by the party chief Assaduddin Owaisi.
The market police booked the violators on Tuesday under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act, apart from IPC sections based on a complaint filed by the returning officer. The rally was held on Monday. The AIMIM is feilding six candidates for Belagavi city corporation polls scheduled to be held on September 3.
The police have named a few district level leaders, Latif Khan Pathan, Joya Akthar Aslam Doni, Mushtaq Tahsildar and three others in the FIR. On the day of the event, hundreds of AIMIM supporters were seen moving around the car in which Owaisi was present. Majority of them were not wearing masks and needless to say there was no social distancing. The people holding each other were welcoming Owaisi to the city. The police however has not booked Owaisi in the FIR.
There were rumors of AIMIM joining hands with the JD(S). However, Owaisi in a press meet said his party will be contested on its own and he has no interest to work with the JD(S). He said party chief H D Kumaraswamy made a mistake engaging coalition with the Congress which is the same as BJP.
