Mangalore: Harassment allegation against ACP - DYFI demands action
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, May 24: “It is the duty of the police to provide protection to women and maintain law and order in society. But here, the ACP T R Jagannath has been allegedly involved in sexually harassing his junior officer Shreekala K T, assistant sub-inspector. A person who must provide protection to the people is himself violating the law and harassing innocents,” said Muneer Katipalla, state vice-president, DYFI.
He was addressing the gathering at a protest organized by district DYFI unit and Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Vedike (forum against women exploitation) in collaboration with the SFI near the DC office in the city on Friday May 24.
He alleged that the erstwhile BJP government supported Jagannath when there was an attack on innocents at Padil home stay. “ACP Jagannath unnecessarily booked and filed the charge sheet against a few innocents who were actually not involved in the attack, along with culprits. Hence, people have thrown the BJP into the Arabian Sea in this election. The harassment of an innocent woman police officer is really a tragedy in the district,” added Katipalla.
“The ACP had supported the land mafia, builders, clubs, prostitution rackets, and suppliers of illicit liquor. The police commissioner has taken stringent action against Durgaprasad, a constable of Suratkal station who is accused of sending a vulgar message to a woman constable. Why cannot the commissioner think of taking action against the ACP?” Katipalla demanded.
“Today, I requested the two ministers U T Khadar and Ramanath Rai to take stringent action against ACP Jagannath and have him immediately suspended and provide justice to Shreekala,” he added.
Sara Abubkar, well-known litterateur, said, “When a policewoman is facing this problem how can a common woman live in this society? The previous government has trained these officers on how to behave with women. The government should take stringent action against ACP Jagannath and he should be suspended.”
Vidya Dinkar, social activist, said, “We need to teach some laws to them when they are not followed. This incident is really painful. We have approached the commissioner and urged setting up of an inquiry committee headed by a woman officer. Vishaka Guidelines should be followed and ACP Jagannath should be suspended from his position.”
Merlin Martis, activist, and Jeevanraj Kuthar spoke on this occasion.
On this occasion, a memorandum was submitted to the DC requesting stringent action against ACP Jagannath.