Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Mar 16: Under the banner of the Karnataka State Adivasi Rights Samanvaya Samiti (co-ordination committee) a protest was staged demanding the immediate release of Vittal Malekudiya, in front of the DC’s office, on Thursday March 15.
Vittal, a journalism student of Mangalore University from the Malekudiya community, was arrested by the anti-Naxal force last week when his father was out of the house for some medications (around 3.00 pm).
Vittal was taken into police custody for simply possessing naxal literature and paper cuttings of naxal activities, said the protestors. Soon after, when the father of Vittal questioned the police about the reason behind the arrest, they were not truthful and cooked up stories instead, alleged the protestors.
Apart from the police and anti-naxal squads, there are many other organized groups which are working for the society. More than the policemen, these organizations, activists and the leaders sacrifice their life for social order. NFI, DYFI, and Karnataka Backward Coordination Committee are some of the organizations and Vittal was one of its members. Arresting a member of such renowned organization is ridiculous, stated the protestors.
It seems that there is a selfish motive of the police to gain promotion, accused the protestors. Some two months back, police personnel were murdered and a false conclusion was arrived at that he was killed by naxals and hence further inquiry was ignored.
Therefore, the protestors appealed that such things should not happen to Vittal and hinder his bright future.