Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Mar 10: The protest undertaken by various political organizations in Kumble on Wednesday, demanding immediate arrest of a petty shopkeeper, Narasimha Nayak (50), took an ugly turn, as violence broke out during the protest. The protestors were agitated at Nayak’s act in making use of innocent young students of an upper primary school near his shop to fulfil his sexual urge, by offering sweets and money to them.
The policemen had raided the shop on Wednesday morning, but by then, Nayak had succeeded in decamping from the town. The policemen have taken into custody a person named Ashok, working as an assistant for Nayak. Reportedly, the policemen were alerted about the incident sufficiently in advance, but that their lethargy in acting promptly provided the culprit with enough time to escape.
During the jatha taken out by the Youth League activists demanding the arrest of the accused on Wednesday, a group resorted to pelting of stones at them, giving rise to violence and stoning of a few shops. The policemen resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowds, and even a number of press persons including Asianet reporter, Sandeep, Jai Hind Malayalam channel reporter, Purushottaman, Kairali channel reporter, Kuttan, Deshabhimani photographer, Ajeyan, reporter, Aneesh, etc., were at the receiving end of the police brutality. Rafique (28), a Youth League activists and resident of Kodyamme, was injured. He is being treated in a hospital here.
The activists of All India Youth Federation led protest later in Kumble. Demanding the release of Youth League activists arrested during the disturbances, United Democratic Front activists came together in front of the local police station, and pressurized the policemen to release the Youth League activists. After the deputy superintendent of police (DySP) came to the police station, the arrested persons were released. Thereafter, a group led by Manjeshwar MLA, Kunambhu, mobbed the police station. The situation turned tense in the town.
The media persons also held a demonstration in front of the police station, in protest against the beating up of their brethren. They handed over a written complaint to DySP Vikram, demanding action. The official promised them to take suitable steps.
The Youth League activists claimed that the protestors were stoned at with the tacit support of the policemen by people supporting Matka centres like the one run by Nayak. It is gathered that all the girls used by Nayak belong to a single colony, and that they are from families of a single tribal community, who hail from north Karnataka, and have been working as daily labourers here since the last couple of decades. After teachers of the school saw hundred rupee notes in the hands of the girls and questioned them, did the truth come out. The school headmaster and president of Parents Teachers Association have jointly filed a written complaint in Kumble police station against Nayak.