Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Aug 4: Prime accused in Dharmastala firing incident, Bheeshmaiah, an Andhra Pradesh state reserve policeman, who is accused of firing at the crowd that killed one and injured several others, claimed in a statement filed at the magisterial inquiry being held on the incident, that he and his colleagues fired in the air to disperse an irate crowd, because of the lurking fear of getting lynched by the crowd, in self-defence and to protect the arms and ammunitions kept in their vehicles.

This statement was recorded at the magisterial inquiry held by Puttur sub divisional magistrate Dr K Harish Kumar on Monday August 3, relating to the firing resorted to by the Andhra Pradesh policemen at Dharmastala on May 1 this year.

"90 personnel of the Andhra Pradesh reserve policemen had come to Dharmastala on a visit, while returning to our home state, after attending to the poll duties in the district. We arrived in two buses and parked the vehicles in the parking ground. Those who were playing cricket at the ground, objected to the policemen resting in the ground," Bheeshmaiah said.

Answering to questions raised by the presiding officer, he said, the incident occurred because of communication gap. He agreed, he had no permission or order to fire at the mob. "Our platoon commander tried to calm down the crowd that was throwing stones at our bus. As a livid mob with petrol cans in hand confronted us, we faced the threat of being immolated alive," he said.

He admitted that the policemen had resorted to caning initially. As the number of people swelled to over 200 and the livid people started threatening us, the policemen felt threatened and intimidated, he said, in reply to questions raised to him. He asserted that he and his colleagues had not consumed alcohol then.

A total of 13 policemen from the Andhra Pradesh reserve police presented themselves before the magisterial inquiry held here on Monday, in accordance with the summons served on them.