ABVP protest: Report alleges security breach

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

A report explaining the security failure in handling Saturday’s protest held by the members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been submitted to the Bengaluru Commissioner of Police, C.H. Pratap Reddy. The members of the BJP’s student wing were baton-charged and driven away by the police when they allegedly attempted to barge into the residence of Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra here seeking ‘justice’ to BJP youth wing leader Praveen Nettar, who was murdered in Dakshina Kannada district.

According to the report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru North division, Vinayak Patil, there were only five policemen from City Armed Reserve (CAR) deployed for the security outside the Home Minister’s residence at Jayamahal in the city.

The J.C. Nagar police were alerted about the incident only after a CAR constable informed them about it. The report highlighted that the J.C. Nagar police inspector was transferred 10 days ago without replacement and hence the responsibility of handling the situation was given to a Sub-inspector. By the time the team of police reached the spot, the protestors had already stormed the minister’s residence. The police had registered FIRs against 30 ABVP activists in connection with the incident. However later they were let off on station bail, sources said.

After Saturday’s incident, the state government decided to appoint a new police inspector for the JC Nagar police station. Meanwhile in a late night operation, a special team of police investigating Praveen Nettaru murder case, nabbed two people from HRBR Layout in the city on Sunday and have taken them to Mangaluru for further interrogation, sources said.