Dubai : Gopal Hosur Calls Underworld Fugitives to Surrender
Report by Shodhan Prasad
Pics by Harish Kamath
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Feb 7: UAE Kannadigas under the patronage of Padmashree Dr.B.R. Shetty, hosted a felicitation to brave, simple and honest Inspector General of Police Western Range & Commissioner of Mangalore Gopal B. Hosur on 6th February, 2010 at Lotus Hotel Apartments, Banquet Hall, Hor Al Anz, Dubai. UAE Kannadigas has emerged as a parent organization for all Kannadigas in the UAE lead by Sarvotham Shetty.
Sarvotham Shetty, also President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha & UAE Bunts opened up the programme at around 8.10 PM welcoming IGP Gopal Hosur and his wife along with Padmashree Dr. B.R. Shetty on to the dais. He also welcomed the Presidents and Committee Members of various Regional Community Associations of Karnataka in UAE. Later he read the good deeds of the IGP and also said that the life story of Gopal gave an example and inspiration to other Officers. He also briefed about Gopal’s encounter with the notorious bandit Veerappan details of which was highlighted in various reports flashed in Daijiworld. He said UAE Kannadigas are proud to have Gopal Hosur amongst us on this special day. Gopal Hosur was then felicitated by Dr. B.R. Shetty with Shawl, Flowers & Fruits. Also a plaque in memory was presented to the IGP.
Later there was a self introductory cession by the members who attended and it started with Ganesh Rai, Ex-President Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, Shekar Shetty, Managing Director, Arab Udupi Group of Hotels, Sudhir Kumar Shetty,CEO, UAE Exchange, C.R. Shetty, President, Karnataka Sangha Dubai & Tulu Koota, Pravin Kumar Shetty, MD, Fortune Hotel, B.G. Mohandas, Ex-President Karnataka Sangha Dubai & Chief of Gulf Kannadiga.com, Veteran Jayaram Somayaji, Santosh of Mangalore Konkans, Ravi Rai of National Medical Centre, Krishnaraj Tantri of Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Business men’s James Mendonca, Sudhakar Alva, Rajesh Shetty, Michael D’Souza, Noel Almeida, President of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, Shodhan Prasad of Billawas Dubai & Daiji Reporter, Rajendra Pejavar, President Vishwakarma Seva Samithi, Shantaram Achar, Herman Lewis, CEO of Radio Spice 105.4 FM, R.K. Kulkarni, MD of Emirates Contracting Co., Ibrahim from Goa, K.J. Ganiga, Satish V. Kumar, MD, Chilly Willy Trading, Business men’s Kushal Shetty, Premnath Shetty & Sujath Shetty of Ghantoot Building Materials, Shankar Shetty, Shivanand Hebbar, Mahabal Kotekar of TV Serials, Katte Ramachandra, Award winning Kannada Film Director, Balakrishna Shetty, President Tulu Koota, Kaup, Nagaraj Shetty of Corporation Bank Dubai, Gunasheel Shetty, Dr. Yousuf, Dr. Kaup & Mohd. Muloor of Beary’s Cultural Forumn, Harish Kamath of Daijiworld, Vinay of Namma T.V. and 18 visiting Ladies team members of Surathkal, Mulki and Kuwait.
Gopal Hosur then spoke with his initial note stating that in his 55 years of life and 30 years of service this day will be the one to be remembered as special day in his life. He specially thanked all the UAE Kannadiga members gathered and said he had never even dreamt of coming to Dubai in such an occasion. He praised Dr. B.R. Shetty for his honesty, simplicity and helping nature, whose invitation made him agree to come down to UAE. He was surprised to see so many Kannadigas gathered in a short notice. Gopal Hosur briefed on his role as a Police Officer for 30 years and taking over as IGP of Western Region, Mangalore on February 18th 2009. He said his taking over had to handle a case of murder in the beginning itself.
As per him the people of Mangalore are intelligent, principled and having tremendous spirit, be it social, economical or political. The only thing that creates trouble sometimes in this region is misconception of certain issues and the way it is being carried of. While praising the media he also stated that some time media exaggerate the situation with hot news without thinking of the consequence. The one thing he did soon after taking charge is digging up ten years back records of those incidents in Mangalore which gave him a conclusion that less than 0.1% are those people who were indulged in the activities to destabilize the area. And this 0.1% is either way yards or those who are provoked to do so. The immediate step taken by the Police Force is to isolate these people in a step taken to clean up and he appreciated that those people who supported them are those from various communities, Political Parties and well wishers in order to maintain law and order in the region. This is how he started gaining confidence from the public of Mangalore whom he likes most among various zones in his career.
Secondly he spoke on the underworld activities that operate from outside of the country and said he would welcome and appreciate if they initiate in surrendering to the law wherein they may be sentenced to minimum punishment or else may have to face a difficult situation. He also spoke on the naxalite activities in areas around Chickmagalur, Udupi, South Kanara in around 85 villages which they have resisted and with the co-operation of the public were able to tackle the situation.
Finally he praised the Rulers of UAE and the good law and order situation here and said the expatriates here should be lucky to be here working in this country. He also thanked all the Kannadigas who by working here try to help their brethrens back home in education and other fields. He said he will be returning to his home town with the love and wishes of all Kannadigas living in UAE with a promise to make the region under his control a peaceful place to dwell.
Dr. B.K. Yousuf, Mulur and Dr. Kaup presented Gopal with Flower Bouquet and Memento on behalf of Beary’s Cultural Forum while Satish V. Kumar of Chilly Willy presented Flower and Gift as a token of remembrance.
A question and answer cession was arranged immediately wherein we could see many questions raised by number of attendees viz., Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Ganesh Rai, Krishnaraj Tantry, C.R. Shetty, Vinay, Dr. Kaup and Herman Lewis on various issues which was politely answered by him. Those really touched the IGP were the one’s raised by Herman Lewis on requesting the Police to have a tit a tat with the media to bridge the gap of communication in way of periodical seminars and the one raised by Dr. Kaup who said that the Police should have more interaction with the educational institutions in the form of CSR activities and during some national celebrations to brief the students on their roles to become caring citizens.
Gopal Hosur announced that he will take these as good suggestions and will implement in their on going improvement programme. He also announced that he has a good team of Officers and that he should mention about 2 of his assistants who have already started the interaction programme with the students who recently have crossed addressing more than 10,000 students on the issue. He also said that there are around 3590 places of worships in Mangalore alone and are trying their best to protect them with the limited force they are having though it is very difficult practically.
IGP Gopal Hosur respecting those maximum number of NRIs from his region here, announced that he will try to help as many as possible in their plea’s any time and for swift communication can be contacted through email at gopalhosur@yahoo.com or commissionerjoint@yahoo.co.in
In his conclusion speech Dr. B.R. Shetty thanked the IPG for accepting his invitation and wished him all success in his venture. He also remembered the situation few days back during Gopal’s arrival to UAE, the chances they got in meeting the top Inspector General of Police, Dubai and the Consul General of India in Dubai though they have not thought of it. He thanked all those attendees for gracing the occasion. It is true that all Kannadigas are proud to have such a IGP / Commissioner and IPS Officer who is simple, approachable, understanding and honest.
The programme concluded with a grand buffet dinner at around 10.30 pm