Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 25: The state government has told the high court that the magisterial inquiry ordered into the firing incident during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest in the city on December 19 will conclude before March 24.

Hearing into public interest litigation filed by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and others seeking to entrust the said incident to special investigation team for probe came before a high court division bench presided over by chief justice A S Oka and with Justice Hemanth Chandana Gowder as member on Monday February 24.

Placing arguments on behalf of the state government, advocate general Prabhulinga Navadagi, stated that the case has been entrusted to criminal investigation agency, and that the magisterial inquiry led by deputy commissioner, which is in progress, has recorded statements of 74 witnesses. He said that inquiry will conclude by March 24. Navadagi also said that first information reports have been registered about the complaints filed against the police by members of the families of the deceased, and the injured. He stated that probe also is in progress relating to these cases.

The bench had, during the previous hearing, ordered to conserve all the video clips recorded in all the CCTV cameras on the day of the incident. It had also issued directions to submit certificate about their quality and sizes. On this basis, city commissioner Dr P S Harsha, filed a certificate. It was said that after issuing public notice, one person had filed a CD containing 50 video clips. The bench, which took these things on record, adjourned the hearing.