Ballari, Jan. 2 -- A person was shot dead in a clash between Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA G Janardhana Reddy outside the latter's residence in Ballari over a dispute over the installation of a banner.

Tensions flared when Janardhana Reddy's supporters objected to putting up banners for an event to install the Valmiki statue on January 3. What began as a verbal altercation soon escalated, and the two groups got involved in hand-to-hand combat and stone-pelting, and later firing, prompting police to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, police said.

Ranjith kumar Bandaru, SP Ballari, said, "This dispute has resulted in a rioting situation and stone pelting between Janardhana Reddy's supporters and the city ...