Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jul 4: Even though summons had been served on the Andhra policemen who fired at young crickets playing cricket at Dharmasthala on May 1 about the magisterial inquiry, the Central Reserve Police Force personnel chose to remain absent at the hearing held here by Puttur assistant commissioner Harish Kumar on Friday July 3. The inquiry officer said summons would be issued to the policemen again.

A total of 13 policemen, two of them accused, were asked to appear for the hearing. Kumar said, that Karkala police station assistant sub inspector of police Jaya, who escorted the policemen to Dharmastala too will be served with summons.  The next hearing will be held at Puttur office, he stated.

On Friday, bus drivers Bhoja and Vijaya Kumar appeared for the inquiry and recorded their statements. Dharmastala police outpost head constable Sheenappa who also was present, said he had not noticed about the alleged intoxicated state of the Andhra policemen as charge by several witnesses. "The policemen were asked to visit the temple in groups of ten members each, but they did not agree. Then a separate queue was made for them. After the disturbance at the cricket ground, the policemen resorted to caning. About 1,000 people had gathered there. The Andhra policemen fired from inside the vehicle and outside. In four minutes, they fired 12 rounds. I saw Aitappa and Udaya falling on the ground. I was at the spot which was fired at, he explained.

Andhra policemen abused the local policemen, by saying, 'bloody Karnataka Police'. As the locals were on our side, a big tragedy was averted. Those in the bus suffered from lack of able leadership. The situation did not warrant firing. Senior officials immediately rushed to Dharmasthala and controlled the situation, he added.

Police constables Rajashree and Chandrashekhar also recorded their statements.