Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (EP)
Bhatkal, Mar 12: Congress leaders have levelled serious allegations that Bhatkal police have 'conspired to target the Congress and the minority community'. The leaders are getting ready to complain to the Karnataka home minister against some Bhatkal police officials.
More than a hundred Congress party leaders and members from different parts of the taluk held an emergency meeting under the leadership of MLA Mankalu Vaidya on Thursday March 10 evening with regard to the new development.
"Derogatory remarks against Congress leaders and Muslims have been circulating in WhatsApp in the last few months. Police are refusing to accept complaints against the suspects. Further, the police are friendly with the suspects which has given rise to doubts. One of the suspects has gone to the police station several times for casual conversation. The attitude of the police was the reason for the clashes between the two parties on March 9," alleged the Congress leaders.
"Congress block president was assaulted in the police station. What will be the fate of a common man going to the police station for justice?"
"The former PSI Manjunatha Gowda was a sincere cop who had stopped assaults, protests at police station etc. Such incidents have started once again. These incidents will not occur without the support of the police. The suspects are entering the police stations without fear. Police constables remain helpless due to conspiracy of the higher officers. If the district superintendent of police had not been present in Bhatkal on March 9, things would have been disastrous," said the Congress leaders.
MLA Mankalu Vaidya who heard Congress activists and leaders assured that he would meet the home minister soon and explain the situation to him.
However, the MLA rejected the suggestion of calling for Bhatkal bandh and requested his party workers to maintain peace.
The court has granted bail to all the accused in the March 9 clash between BJP and Congress leaders. The clash had erupted over a WhatsApp message in connection to the recent bandh over Anant Kumar Hegde's remarks on Islam.