Udupi: Policeman accused of assaulting GP president over issue of flag

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)

Udupi, Nov 25: A circle inspector has been accused of allegedly slapping a gram panchayat president on the night of Sunday November 24, over an issue concerning failure of officials to lower the national flag at the end of the day as per protocol.

It is said that the driver of Kote gram panchayat president Prashant Jatanna was on his way back after dropping him home, when he noticed the national flag at the panchayat office not lowered as per protocal. He then stopped the car and informed Jatanna, who asked him to captura a few photographs of the flag on his mobile phone as evidence, and lower the flag himself.

Meanwhile, circle inspector Sunil Nayak who was night beat noticed Jatanna's driver and enquired what he was doing. The driver explained his action, but soon an argument arose between them over whose duty it was to lower the flag. The inspector reportedly said that he has no right to lower the flag, for which the latter replied that anyone could do it, as long the flag was given due respect. The driver then called Jatanna, who arrived at the spot. Soon, people gathered and the situation turned tense, and more police personnel rushed to the spot to control the crowd.

Speaking to mediapersons in the hospital on Monday November 25, Jattanna alleged that the inspector talked rashly to him and assualted him, for which he had to get admitted.

"He knows I am president of gram panchayat, how could he raise his hands on me?" he said.

DySP Annamalai of Karkala too had visited the spot and Jatanna was taken to police station but released soon. He then filed a complaint against the inspector for insulting the national flag and assaulting him. He also demanded his suspension or transfer.

Jatanna's wife who was present in the hospital said that the police who should be protecting the people has created nuisance for her husband.

Speaking to daijiworld, Karkala DySP Annamalai said that there was no question of inspector Sunil Nayak's suspension. "At 11.30 when the incident took place there was no one at the spot except the persons directly involved in the incident, but gradually people started gathering. We wanted to depute more personnel to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.

"Inspector Sunil says that he has not assaulted the gram panchayat president. He will file a case against Jatanna for insulting the national flag. The inspector said that Jatanna was not trying to lower the flag but only clicking pictures to complain later. He should have first lowered the flag. No one can insult the national flag," he said.

He further said that he would be investigating the case on three aspects - whether the national flag was insulted, whether gram panchayat president was assaulted and whether there was dereliction of duty by panchayat officials in not following protocol with regard to the flag, and if so, by whom.

When it was pointed out that Jatanna was admitted in hospital, the DySP said that he was not admitted but had only gone to check his BP and sugar, and that there are no hospital records to support the gram panchayat's claims.

Meanwhile, chairman of International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA) Ronald Colaco condemned the incident and said that police shoud maintain law and order and not take law into their hands. He pointed out that when gram panchayat president had already taken action to solve the matter, the circle inspector should not have assaulted him. "The DySP is trying to twist and fabricate the case. I tried to contact district incharge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake but there was no response. I then spoke to the ADGP and explained the situation to him. Strict action must be taken against the circle inspector, if not it will send a bad message to the public," he said.

IFKCA state convener Denis D'Silva also condemned the incident.