Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)
Sullia, Jan 3: Wives of the policemen, who were suspended in connection with the alleged torture of some BJP leaders relating to the stone pelting incident at the police station on December 14 night, met Puttur assistant superintendent of police (ASP) on Monday January 2, and handed over a petition, requesting him to revoke the suspension orders within a week. They said that the suspensions were not in order, and threatened to undertake protest by way of fast unto death in front of the police station in case of failure to heed to this request, along with their children.
It may be recalled that local circle inspector, Taranath, was relieved on January 1, after his suspension. Sub-inspector, Ravikumar, who was transferred to Puttur station on the day of the incident, stands suspended. Ramesh and Scaria, police constables, were suspended on Sunday January 1. The suspended policemen, it is said, wanted to hold a silent protest by wearing black clothes, but gave up the idea at the advice of the higher ups.
The petition was submitted to ASP Anuchet, when he visited the police station here on Monday. “The policemen were compelled to resort to light lathi charge to protect government property and save their lives, when the police station was stoned. In the protest meeting held under the banner of Hindu Hitarakshana Vedike, leaders spoke derogatively of the wives, mothers, and sisters of the policemen. The suspensions are not justified. The policemen concerned are innocent, and they were just executing the instructions of higher officers,” they said in the petition.
They also expressed disappointment at the lack of sympathy on the part of the public or organizations for the police personnel who were injured due to stone pelting, and the fact that the additional director general of police had overlooked the statements given by the policemen, while upholding the claims made by the complainants. They lamented the fact that the department chose not to hold an inquiry by knowledgeable citizens or heads of reputed social service organizations into the incident.
Wives of policemen, Asha Ramesh, Manju Scaria, Prema Harish, Rashmi Devaraj, Nalini Navin, Pushpalata Dhananjaya, Rekha Radhakrishna, Baby Seetaram, Savita Taranath, Kalavati Belliappa, Vishalakshi Sheshappa, and Teertha Umesh, were present.