Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)
Narendra Kerekadu
Karkala, Aug 9: The complaint sent to Karnataka chief minister (CM) by fax against a teacher of Sooda government high school in the taluk has given sleepless night to the personnel of the rural police station here. At the same time, resisting the efforts being made to victimize the teacher concerned, preparations are under way to organize huge rally in his support.
It may be recalled that two persons, Shibani and Prem, had sent a fax to state chief minister, Siddaramaiah, alleging that in-charge headmaster of Sooda government high school, Rithesh Shetty, had been 'sexually harassing' the students. This incident came just days after the arrest of Venkataramana Kalkura, headmaster of Hebri Shivapura government high school over alleged sexual harassment of a student.
The chief minister, in response thereof, had instructed the superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada district to investigate the matter and send a detailed report. Karkala rural policemen, accordingly, took Rithesh Shetty into custody on Tuesday night. After questioning him and getting explanation, he was released against execution of a bond.
On Wednesday morning, station house officer of the station, along with some other personnel, visited Sooda government high school and made further inquiries. The job of the policemen has become complicated, as the complainants, Shiabni and Prem, have remained anonymous, and they are not their real names.
Station house officer, K M Mahadeva Shetty, said that during the inquiry, no complaints were heard about Rithesh Shetty either in the school or the village. What will happen next has remained a mystery, as in normal course, anonymous letters are not given any credence.
A huge protest meet was organized under the aegis of Buntara Sangha on Thursday August 7, in association with various organizations, institutions, and well-wishers of Rithesh Shetty, resisting unreasonable steps being taken against Shetty. The meeting was held at Sooda Lord Subrahmanya temple.
Those who had gathered for the meeting in unison asserted that Rithesh Shetty is innocent, and noted that attempt to frame and defame him through an organized conspiracy is presently on. They urged the policemen not to initiate any action against Shetty.
The protest was led by Belman Buntara Sangha president, Nandalike Chavadi Aramane Suhas Hegde. In his address, Hegde condemned the policemen for trusting anonymous complaints without proper verification and misbehaving with Rithesh Shetty. He said that some demeaning people had sent anonymous complaint in fake names. He demanded the policemen to undertake in-depth investigation to identify those responsible for the character assassination of Rithesh Shetty, and provide justice to him by punishing them.
He noted that Rithesh Shetty, as a disciplined and well-behaved teacher, had earned a place of honour in the society. 'Shetty has been serving the society through various organizations. He also happens to be the state president of Physical Training Teachers Association. If those who had conspired against Rithesh are not arrested before August 23, a taluk level protest will be organized,' he warned.
Entrepreneur from Belman, S K Salian, who is a leading patron of the said school and had always extended support to activities undertaken by Rithesh Shetty, felt a lump in his throat when noting that such a nice person is being targetted by evil elements. Temple managing trustee, Jayasheela Hegde, Udupi District Human Rights Forum president, Inna Udayakumar Shetty, Katapadi gram panchayat president, Vinay Ballal, retired lecturer and Belman Janajagruti Samiti president, B Seetaram Shetty, Kaup Leeladhar Shetty, and others were present at the meeting.
People from Sooda, Belman, Nandalike, Mundkoor, Kaup, Shirva, Padubidri, Katapadi, Bola and other villages had attended the meeting in large numbers. Sahana Kundar, a past student of the school, also heaped lavish praises on Rithesh Shetty, and pledged support of the old students of the institutions to him.