Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, May 26: With threat calls to Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty from a person claiming to be underworld don Ravi Poojary increasing despite a police complaint, the MLA has now been provided with a gunman and security has been beefed up around his house.
The caller reportedly from Australia claiming to be Ravi Poojary had called Halady on Monday May 25 and demanded money, and threatened to kill him if his demand was not met. Halady had lodged a complaint in this regard in Shankaranarayana police station the same day.
On Tuesday May 26, the person called the MLA again at 12.35 pm and again demanded money. Not only that, he repeatedly called Halady all through the afternoon, more than five times.
Hence, the police decided to provide the MLA with gunmen and deploy security at his residence.
The caller who claimed to be Ravi Poojary spoke in Tulu and Hindi. On Monday he called from a number with Australian code, but on Tuesday he called from five different numbers. Moreover, he called from an internet number too. On Tuesday, the first call was from the number 301 21242120273, then from 301 3444, which the MLA received. He then called from the numbers 85616757369 and 301 3444, but these two times, Halady did not answer the calls.
SP Annamalai visited Halady's residence and collected information about the calls. He then ordered deployment of security at the MLA's house.
Speaking to media persons, Halady said he had no idea why he was being targetted. "Whether as an MLA or even before that, I have always worked hard with sincerity and I have never made money through any illegal means. I have no money, and moreover, I am all alone and I have no one to accumulate wealth for. Even during elections I did not take money from anyone, hence I have no cause for fear. I have lodged a complaint with the police about the threat calls, and even though I refused, the SP has given me police security."
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and Udupi district BJP president Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde visited Halady and expressed their support.
Kundapur DySP Manjunath Shetty and Shankaranarayana police inspector Dejappa are overseeing the security arrangments.
Speaking to daijiworld, SP Annamalai said, "We are examining the calls that the MLA received and we have provided him with additional security. Threat calls from the underworld are common in the coastal districts. Since 1990, it has been a common phenomenon for different gangs to make threat calls. They sit in foreign countries and use their technology to make such calls, thinking that the police here cannot catch them.
"In this case, it it true that a person claiming to be Ravi Poojary has called using the internet and other technologies. We have identified the numbers he called from and we are continuing our efforts to trace the same. He had earlier issued threats to various people in Mangaluru and Karkala," the SP said.
"It might be that the caller is trying to seek publicity. The police have recently given fitting reply to underworld elements making such threat calls. This caller too will be dealt with in an appropriate manner," the SP said.