Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 5: After a crowd laid siege to Malpe police station on Tuesday January 4, demanding action against the station house officer, the district superintendent of police promised to suspend the sub-inspector (SI) involved and initiate inquiry against another SI. The mob was furious at the fact that the SI in question had allegedly tortured an innocent youth, against whom no complaint was registered.

It is alleged that the station house officer, Santosh Shetty, had summoned a youth named Kishore from Malpe Bailakere to the police station for conciliation, after which he beat up the youth and posed death threat. After the family of the youth and a few people known to him came to the police station to question the police officer, the SI is said to have used filthy words against them. The people, angered by the attitude of the concerned, then staged a protest. Over 500 people had gathered in front of the police station.

Reportedly, two groups of youth had fought with each other at Ajjarkad here, two days ago, relating to some incident. Kishore has been accused of being present during this altercation. Another fight had erupted between the same groups in Malpe later.  Kishore, who was asked to come to the police station, was allegedly tortured by the sub-inspectors of police from Malpe and Udupi stations, duly drawing help from two of their subordinates.

Realizing that the situation was going out of control, superintendent of police, Pravin Madhukar Pawar, deputy superintendent of police, Jayant Shetty, and MLA, Raghupati Bhat, visited the spot and pacified the crowd. Kishore has been admitted into the district government hospital.

The SP said that Malpe station house officer, Sabntosh Shetty, would be suspended, and that an inquiry will also be conducted against the SI from Udupi, who is also involved with the said incident.