Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jul 7: Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police (SP), Sudheer Kumar Reddy, said that six police teams have been formed for hunting down the culprits involved with the murder attempt on the life of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker from B C Road, Sharath. Sharath was closing down his laundry at around 9.30 pm when three men who came in a motor bike had indiscriminately attacked him with sharp weapons before escaping.
The superintendent of police, who is camping in the town police station here, was speaking to media persons who met him on Thursday July 6. "We have already questioned about 20 persons in connection with this case, and investigation is in progress. Till now, we have not got any conclusive clue about the identities of the criminals. While three of our teams are functioning within the limits of the Manaluru city police commissionerate limits, the other three are operational in other areas of the district," he added.
The SP confessed that the footage of CCTV in front of the laundry which witnessed the attack shows that the accused came in a motor bike and left thereafter, but the footage is unclear. He however, said that the police are not leaving any stone unturned in investigating this incident.
Reddy said that the health condition of Sharath continues to be worrisome. He said that the doctors have been keeping a close watch on his progress and treating him with special care. He added that securiy all over the taluk has been further strengthened in view of the protest programme at B C Road on Friday, call for which has been given by Hindu Hitarakshana Samiti.
The SP revealed that currently over a thousand police personnel from districts like Davanagere, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Haveri, Mysuru and Kodagu districts have been deployed for keeping tab on law and order situation here and that over a hundred police officers have been given the responsibility of monitoring them. "We have taken abundant care to ensure that no untoward incident happens. We have also deployed ten district armed reserve and 12 Karnataka State Reserve Police contingent and 100 personnel of Rapid Action Force at strategic places," he explained.
The situation in the taluk looks calm but underlying tension is visible everywhere, after the murder attempt of Sharat on Tuesday night. On Thursday, business was dull in shops and establishments since the evening and many of them were seen closing down for the day earlier than usual. Police personnel have been keeping close vigil. They have instructed roadside shops not to allow empty soft drinks bottles outside their shops at any cost. The police have also advised people not to leave anything that can be used as a weapon outside.
Although the taluk looks peaceful at present, police presence in large numbers is evident everywhere. Vehicular movement is normal and shops and businesses are functioning normally.
On Thursday, the SP chaired a meeting in the town police station to take stock of the situation. In-charge additional SP, Vishnuvardhan, and deputy superintendent of police, Raveesh, among others, were present.