Home Minister seeks report on Shivamogga cops

Shyam Sundar Vattam| NT

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has written a letter to Director General & Inspector General of Police Praveen Sood seeking details of police officers working in two police stations in Shivamogga City, action taken against anti-social elements and dereliction of duty in the last five years within a week.

According to copy available with NT, the minister said it was learnt that the cops have picked up the suspects behind the brutal murder of Harsha, an activist of Bajrang Dal in Shivamogga City on Sunday last, and taken them into custody after producing them before court to secure additional information from them. Reports have indicated that a number of cases had been registered against the accused in the past both in Doddapet and Kota Police Stations. The DG &IGP must provide information on the police officers and staff members who worked in these two police stations in the last five years; action initiated by them against those youth with criminal background; steps taken by them to keep the anti-social elements under check and any dereliction of duty. The DG&IGP must probe whether instructions given by senior officers have been implemented or not, and submit a detailed report within a week.

Araga said a lot of complaints were received from the general public about the role of police in anti-social elements becoming strong in Shivamogga City. A report in this regard must be submitted within seven days, he added.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters here on Wednesday, the minister said Shivamogga police were investigating the murder from all angles which included whether the murder had any links with the ongoing hijab row; persons who gave money and vehicle to carry out the attack on the Bajrang Dal activist. Twelve p e r s o n s w e r e picked up in connection with the incident are and being questioned. No fresh incident had taken place in Shivamogga City. Senior offices were camping in the violence-hit city to restore peace.

Additional police forces have been deployed in all sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in Shivamogga. “We want to put a full stop to such brutal killings and the Harsha murder must be the last one. This incident will be taken to a logical end”, he added.

The minister clarified that eight persons were arrested till now and over a dozen were detained for questioning. Instructions have been given to the local police not to harass or arrest innocent persons.

The background of the arrested persons was checked to find out whether they had any links with communal organisations. Every lead in this murder case was being followed by the Shivamogga police to identify the conspirators.

Araga said cases were registered against stone throwers during the funeral procession of Harsha in Shivamogga on Monday last.

Those who indulged in violence had to face the music, he added.