Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (SP)

Bhatkal, Sep 22: The family of Ramachandra, who had committed  suicide by immolating himself relating to eviction of his shop in the municipal building, has threatened of mass suicide if the police do not stop harassment of the people. They pointed out that the police personnel have been registering fake cases against people who had pelted stones during the eviction operation, and arresting them.

Frustrated by various developments following the death of Ramachandra, his family members, in a statement issued to the media on Thursday September 21, stated that on February 14, on which the eviction operation was undertaken, driver of the vehicle of the municipality had called the family at 6.15 pm to ask them to come to the municipal compound. "By the time I reached the spot, Ramachandra had torched himself. The police and officials present there did not try to save him. I  doused the fire, laid him on the gorund, and went to call police for protection. But the police took me in their jeep and kept me in the station for over half an hour," said Eshwar Naik, brother of Ramachandra.

"As people started gathering at the police station, I was taken to government hospital for treatment. Some angry people at the municipal compound indulged in stone pelting then. There was no politics involved. But the police are registering robbery cases against those who pelted stones, and sending them behind bars. Youth from the locality have disappeared out of fear of policemen. If the police do not immediately stop the arrests of innocent youth, all the embers of my family will end lives together," Eshwar Naik said.