Bangalore: Pramod Muthalik Wants Police to Train his Cadre
Bangalore, Jul 13 (Bangalore Mirror): Pramod Muthalik, the infamous right-wing rabblerouser who shot into fame with his anti-Valentine's Day stand, is up to mischief again.
He has created an army of youths to walk in his footsteps and got them trained in martial arts. Now, he wants the police to train these youth in handling arms. But, police top brass say they will never allow him to misuse the police machinery.
Muthalik’s Sree Rama Sene has set up a camp in Nandagaon village near Athani of Belgaum district where a few retired army personnel are imparting training in martial arts to around 100 handpicked youths. They are being prepared to fight fanatic elements in other community.
Since Pramod Muthalik & Co do not have permission to give them training in firearms, they want the youths to enrol for the civilian rifle training programme conducted by the police in Bangalore and other districts.
Muthalik told Bangalore Mirror, “We have told them to go to their respective districts and enrol for the civilian training programme, become experts in handling weapons and ammunition, then come back to us for taking on terrorists and protecting the motherland.''
This is where the real worry begins for the police. If they give training to Muthalik's men and they become Lt Col Purohits and Aseemanands, who are accused of carrying out blasts in Malegaon and Hyderabad, they will draw flak.
When asked what would they do if Muthalik's men come to them seeking weapons training, additional director general of police (law & order) R K Dutta said, “Under no circumstances will we allow them. If some organisation approaches us for this programme, we will screen their antecedents and reject permission if something is fishy. Our programme is for able-minded citizens of this country to protect themselves in self-defence.
“We cannot allow individuals or organisations to misuse police for their vested agendas. I will alert the SPs of all the district to remain alert about such people and not to give them any training.''
Muthalik has enrolled around 100 youths at his training camp. He said that the week-long training is given by four retired army personnel. It starts early in the day and stretches up to night. The main part of this programme is to make the youth tougher physically. They are shown video clippings of terror attacks.
He says, “We do not have weapons. It becomes illegal if we train them in handling weapons. So, what is wrong in availing of something which is available to civilians? Why is a big issue being made out of it?”
Intelligence Bureau sleuths are watching Muthalik's camp. Information has been collected about the participants. It may be recalled that Muthalik had distributed trishuls to youth in the past to take on the nation's 'enemies'. During his anti-Valentine's Day campaign, a Bangalore-based women's organisation had protested by sending him hundreds of pink chaddis.