Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 24: Speaking to reporters at the Bajpe airport on their way back to Bangalore after visiting Mangalore and Udupi to get the first hand information about the atrocities committed against the Christian community and the efficacy of the measures initiated by the state government to control the situation, special secretary M L Kumawat and joint secretary A K Yadav from the union home ministry expressed their unhappiness over the measures initiated by the state government after the attacks on Christian centres of prayer in Dakshina Kannada district.
After assessing the situation, they felt, the immediate need for the government is to identify the perpetrators of these attacks and book them for the offence besides arresting them. The government has to take strong measures to contain the anti-social elements and those who disrupt peace, they insisted.
"Such incidents should never have happened. We have received memorandums from all communities. Police version of the happenings by way of a report has also been obtained," they explained. Assistant director general of police(law and order) A R Infant, western range IGP A M Prasad, deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao and district superintendent of police N Sateesh Kumar accompanied the team.
However, the delegation expressed its saisfaction over the steps taken by Udupi district administration in connection with the attacks there. Speaking to newsmen after visiting New Life Prayer Centre on Tuesday September 23, Kumawat said, that the administration cracked down on the culprits and arrested eight people immediately. Other attackers too have been identified and there are hopes of arresting them soon, he added.
Kumawat also revealed, that the team would submit its report to the home ministry on Thursday September 25. To a question as to whether the union government would choose to enforce provisions of sections 355 and 356 of the constitution on the state government, he merely said that the union government wants to initiate strong measures.
During the visit of the team to Udupi, besides ADGP A R Infant, deputy commissioner P Hemalata and SP Pravin Pawar were with the team.