On January 12, BJP leaders and workers held a strong protest in Hubballi. They criticized the police for what they called high-handedness during the arrest of a BJP worker. Hundreds of protesters raised slogans against the police, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the Congress government. They called the incident an atrocity against women. The protesters claimed that the woman was “disrobed” during the arrest. They demanded the government's resignation and strict legal action. Key BJP figures like T.S. Srivatsa, Mysuru MLA, city BJP president L. Nagendra, and district BJP president Subbanna took part in the protest.