Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Apr 22: Karkala MLA and chief whip of the opposition in the state assembly, Sunil Kumar, criticized the state government’s decision to entrust the case in which a person died in shootout by Anti Naxal Force personnel, to inquiry by criminal investigation department (CID), and to pay a compensation of five lac rupees to the kin of the deceased person. He was addressing a press conference held here on Monday April 21.
‘Prima facie, it has been proved that the concerned were involved in illegal cattle trafficking. They are facing several cases in different police stations. If the government disburses compensation to the families of the deceased, this will come as an incentive for cow slaughterers. Moreover, this will lower the morale of the police force of ANF,’ he observed.
Kumar said that it is commonly acceptable if compensation is paid in case of deaths during social service, movements for general welfare, etc. He said payment of compensation to those who get involved with criminal activities would give a wrong signal. He asked the government to withdraw theabove decisions, which he termed as having been taken in haste. He asked for detailed inquiry into the backgrounds of those arrested in the case, and for the initiation of effective measures to stop illegal cattle trafficking.
‘Why so many cases, which stand registered in different police stations relating to thefts of cows, are not being investigated? Those who have lost their cows have not received anything in the form of compensation from the government. The government is yet to conduct in-depth probe into the recovery of huge cache of explosive materials from Karkala recently. The investigation into gang rape in Deralakatte is yet to be concluded. The government remained mum, even after wife and family members of Mallikarjun Bande, a police official, demanded thorough probe into his death. At the same time, the government is eager to investigate the action of ANF, which has been working to regulate spread of naxalism. It is also every ready to swoop on Hindu activists who fight against illegal cattle trafficking. These things make the motive and aims of the state government crystal clear,’ he said.
District spokesperson of BJP, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, was present in the press conference.