Manikanth Rathod's Arrest: A Year-Long Hunt Concludes After Violent Protest

Well, what a development this is in Karnataka politics! Manikanth Rathod, a prominent figure from the BJP and a former candidate, has finally been taken into custody. It seems the law has a long memory, especially when it comes to incidents of public disorder, doesn't it? His arrest stems from a violent protest that rocked Narayanpur village in Kalaburagi district, an event that actually took place a full year ago.

The incident itself, back in March 2022, was quite chaotic, by all accounts. A protest had erupted, centered around a complaint filed by Basavaraj Mattimood, a BJP candidate at the time, against the Congress stalwart, Priyank Kharge. Things escalated dramatically during this demonstration. Suddenly, stones were flying, turning what should have been a peaceful expression of dissent into a dangerous melee. Imagine the scene: vehicles damaged, and worse still, both police personnel and ordinary civilians caught in the crossfire, sustaining injuries.

Rathod, who was a BJP candidate himself, eyeing the Chittapur constituency, found himself squarely in the crosshairs of the investigation. He was accused of being the one who instigated all that violence. And after that day, he simply vanished. For twelve long months, he managed to elude capture, living as an absconder while the police patiently, or perhaps frustratingly, continued their search. It really makes you wonder about the challenges faced by law enforcement in such situations.

This isn't Rathod’s first brush with the law, either, which adds another layer to this unfolding drama. Before this arrest related to the Narayanpur violence, he had already made headlines for different reasons. He was previously arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru in connection with a high-profile drug peddling case. Although he was later released on bail in that particular matter, it certainly paints a picture of a politician who's no stranger to controversy.

So, after a year of searching, the Kalaburagi police finally managed to apprehend him. It’s a significant moment, bringing a measure of closure to that rather disturbing incident from 2022. The arrest underlines a simple truth: even if it takes time, accountability often catches up. One can only imagine the further developments as this case moves through the legal system.