Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 5: It has come to light that the office of the police commissioner here has submitted a report to the state department of home, recommending action against eight more police personnel, who had pledged solidarity to a police inspector relating to a controversy and staged protest in his support.
S I Pramod Kumar
MLC, Ivan D'Souza, had sought details of action taken against the erring police personnel, in a letter addressed to the chairman of the legislative council. The letter found its way to the department of home, which in turn, sent it to the office of the police commissioner here, seeking the details.
Sources said that city deputy commissioner of police (law and order), Shantaraju, and Panambur assistant commissioner of police, Madan Gaonkar, prepared a report about the participation of policemen in the stir after going through the video footage. Based on this report, city police commissioner, Chandra Sekhar, sent his recommendation.
A person named Abubakker, booked in a criminal case, had been arrested by rural inspector, Pramod Kumar, a few months back. Immediately thereafter, a former zilla panchayat member from Neermarga reportedly contacted the police over phone and brought pressure for the release of Abubakker. Thereafter, several politicians and police officers reportedly prevailed upon the inspector, but he refused to buckle under pressure.
When the department was about to suspend Pramod Kumar, police personnel of his station had stood by his side for support and registered their protest. They were of the opinion that the inspector had done nothing wrong. The policemen also drew support from a number of locals. After this incident, the department, it is said, sent a report, claiming that the inspector concerned is close to some Hindu organizations.
After the incident drew lot of public attention, the department dropped the idea of suspending Pramod, and instead, transferred him to Chamarajanagar. In connection with the incident, four constables were transferred out of rural police station, while four more, who had come on deputation from home guards department, were sent back to the parent department and then removed from service. Among the remaining 16, action has now been recommended against eight.