Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Oct 9: Activists of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) laid siege to the town police station here on Friday October 8 night, alleging that the police had assaulted its activists who had been taken to the police station for questioning them relating to a case.
It was alleged that a youth belonging to another religion had uploaded distorted version of a speech delivered by Chaitra Kundapur at a programme organized at Surathkal recently as status in his social media account. It was alleged that a few people had assaulted the person concerned. On the basis of the complaint, the police had brought people from both sides to the police station. During the interrogation, people of both sides were made to sign a bond before they were released.
Alleging that during the course of interrogation, their activists were beaten up, hundreds of activists of the organization gathered in front of the police station. They refused to accept the police denial. They held the protest in a peculiar way by singing songs like Bhajans. Deputy superintendent of police Srikanth, and inspector Gopikrishna, arrived on the scene and succeeded in pacifying the protestors.
They said that prima facie the alleged police torture does not seem to have happened. They however assured to conduct an investigation if a written complaint is given. They also said that the police personnel will be advised against manhandling people at the stations.
Hindu Jagarana Vedike Mangaluru divisional general secretary Prakash Kukkehalli, warned that the organization will not remain a mute spectator if its workers are assaulted. He demanded a thorough investigation of the current incident and initiation of steps against the guilty. He also wanted assurance against recurrence of such incidents. After the deputy superintendent of police gave this assurance, the protest ended.
Leaders of the organization Shankar Kota, Praveen Kashimath, Adarsh Koteshwar, Naveen Gangolli etc were present.