Bagalkot (PTI): Police today registered an FIR against Karnataka Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and three others, including two of his security personnel, for allegedly assaulting a farmer at Mantur village,about 80 km from here.

Irked over his car blocking their vehicles, the Minister and his staff reportedly had an heated exchange with Shivanand Timsani of Mantur village and allegedly assaulted him.

Timsani later filed a complaint at Mudhol police station where an FIR was registered, police said. A crowd thronged the station and staged a dharna demanding arrest of Nirani and others in connection with the alleged assault.

According to local people, rivalry existed between Nirani and Timsani families.