Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 21: Police commissioner Vikash Kumar said addressing media here on Friday August 21 revealed details about the incident of hoax bomb call to airport.
He said, “On August 19, a man from Karkala made a phone call to former airport director Vasudev Rao about a bomb at Mangaluru airport. Vasudev immediately informed the present airport director. As per protocol, search operation was carried out with the help of CISF and local police.
“Later it was found that it was a hoax call. Vasanth Sherigar, aged 33 and a resident of Karkala Mudrady, is the accused. He is educated up to class 8 but very active in using mobile phone. He has earlier worked at a hotel in Bengaluru for about four years.
“He has later worked at a hotel in Udupi. Due to lockdown, he was at home and found former director’s contact by browsing on internet.
“He knew about the incident which took place earlier in January. Hence, to get publicity, he also called up the airport.
“He was arrested by Udupi police. Various sections of the Indian Penal Code have been put on the accused which are non-bailable,” he said.
When asked if the accused was mentally unsound, the police commissioner said, “It would be unfair to call the accused mentally unsound, unless we have a medical certificate to prove the same.”
On preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi. The police commissioner said, "We have made certain bandobast ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. We have already been conducting route march in all police station limits to ensure peace and maintain law and order. We have already conducted peace meeting with some important people in the society. We have also opened channel communication to clear all the doubts as numbers of DCP's, control room are on public domain. It is not only gambling or matka, if te public has any information, they can approach us any time and we will take action.”
Regarding plasma therapy, he said, "On duty, many police personnel have tested corona-positive and now after testing negative and being cured, they are back on duty. Certain guidelines are issued to police stations which they are working at. Plasma therapy is working wonders and many police personnel are willing to donate plasma. We will have discussion with concerned department and take this forward.”