Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 19: CPM MP from Palakkad, Kerala, M B Rajesh, accused Karnataka government of being crueler than the British Empire, as evidenced in its action of arresting Vittal Malekudiya on the charge of having naxal connection, and not allowing him to appear for the examination, in spite of court orders.

He was addressing a press conference here after meeting Vittal in the jail, and visiting Vittal’s home town, Kutloor, on Wednesday April 18. “The people and Vittal have told me about the atrocities of police. BJP government in Karnataka has been violating human rights with impunity. The government has been trying to take away land from tribals and hand it over to corporates. The evicted people get meagre compensation, and out of this too some NGOs have collected commissions from the people,” he claimed.

Rajesh said that Vittal, who is a member of DYFI, can never support naxals. He stated that Vittal was arrested for possessing a book about Bhagat Singh, and Vittal’s father had suffered fracture of leg because of police action. He added that apart from complaining to the police authorities and drawing the attention of the Chief Minister to these incidents, he will approach Human Rights Commission, Scheduled Tribes Commission, etc and expressed readiness even to approach Supreme Court, if necessary. He said a nationwide protest will be organized to draw attention of people towards police atrocities in Karnataka.

CPM leader, B Madhava, DYFI Kasargod district secretary, Shiji Mathew, and others were present.