Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 5: Additional director general of police of Karnataka, Amar Kumar Pandey, who visited the city amid apprehensions about the anti-Citizenship Ammendment Act (CAA) protest that was planned here and worries over it going out of control, camped at the office of the city police commissioner for the full day on Saturday January 4 and monitored the situation.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Muslim Central Committee had informed the media that a huge convention would be organized at Nehru Maidan on Saturday against CAA. The committee had also made preparations in spite of the police deciding against giving permission for protest at the Nehru Maidan. The committee later took a decision to postpone the protest at the request of state home minister Basavaraj Bommai, at a meeting held in the city.

Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation had called for anti-CAA protest at State Bank area in the city. This protest also was withdrawn later at the instance of the city police commissioner.

It may be recalled that on December 19 some people had come together near State Bank Circle, raised slogans, and staged a protest in spite of prohibitory orders being in force. The situation turned ugly after stones were pelted at the police, and police resorted to caning, bursting of teargas shells followed by firing in which two men had died. Several were injured, of which some were in serious condition. Pandey had visited the city personally at the instance of the state government on Saturday to make sure that the above incident does not get replicated.

The ADGP also held meeting with senior police officers and got information about the December 19 violence and firing. The police produced some CCTV footage and provocative messages spread through social websites. He was also informed that evidences had been put together on the incident. According to local Kannada newspaper Udayavani, ADGP reportedly told the police to collect strong evidence against the accused indulging in vandalism and take strict action against them. 

Inspector general of police, Arun Chakaravarthi, police commissioner, Dr P S Harsha, district superintendent of police, B M Laxmi Prasad, deputy commissioners of police, Arunamshugiri and Laxmi Ganesh were present at the meeting.

Vartha Bharati reported that the ADGP is said to have expressed unhappiness about the violence and disturbances in the city on December 19 that led to to firing in spite of prohibitory orders having been issued in accordance with intelligence input. As per the report, he expressed surprise at the fact that the situation went out of control only in this city. He felt that the violence could have been crushed affectively if the situation was handled with more seriousness promptly, it is said. He however, asked the police to act against those against whom they have proper evidence, the report stated.