Belagavi | November 1:
A selfie of Malmaruti Police Inspector J.M. Kalimirchi with MES leader Shubham Shelke has gone viral, sparking outrage among pro-Kannada activists in Belagavi. The image, clicked at Sambhaji Garden ahead of the MES-led Black Day rally on Karnataka Rajyotsava, has drawn sharp criticism on social media.
For more details : https://www.prajavani.net/district/belagavi/mes-leader-police-selfie-controversy-belagavi-3609893
The rally was organized by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) despite the district administration denying permission for the event. MES members observed Black Day in opposition to Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations, a move that has long been contentious in the border district.
Responding to the backlash, Inspector Kalimirchi issued a clarification stating that the selfie was taken for official documentation and not out of personal admiration.
“I was instructed to keep watch on Shubham Shelke, whose residence falls under our jurisdiction. The photo was taken as part of record-keeping to report his movements to senior officials, not as an act of support,” the inspector told Prajavani.
Shelke currently faces over 15 cases related to disrupting peace and linguistic harmony. The incident has reignited discussions about maintaining law and order during sensitive cultural and political events in Belagavi.
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