The battle between the Jarkiholi and Katti families for control over the cooperative sector in Belagavi district has intensified, particularly in Hukkeri constituency, where both the PKPS and DCC Bank elections have turned into a prestige issue.
Amid this tension, dramatic scenes unfolded in Madihalli village on Monday afternoon when a woman confronted her husband, allegedly for supporting Minister Satish Jarkiholi. In front of the minister, she grabbed his collar, slapped him, and dragged him away, while rival groups raised slogans and police struggled to maintain order.
The incident took place during a PKPS meeting, where missing member Maruti Sanadi suddenly appeared after a week. His wife, furious at his support for Jarkiholi, publicly assaulted him, leaving even the minister caught in the middle. Supporters of Jarkiholi later took Maruti away from the spot.
Shortly after, former MP Ramesh Katti arrived and directly challenged Jarkiholi, also expressing displeasure with the police. As tensions rose, Jarkiholi exited the venue with his followers, while Katti’s supporters entered and confronted the members present. Outside, both factions clashed verbally until police dispersed them.
Meanwhile, Sanadi’s family has alleged that he has been kidnapped again, forcing the meeting to be postponed. With heavy police deployment, the rivalry between the two political families has spilled onto the streets, leaving the village on edge.
