Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Feb 1: At around 7.30 pm on Monday January 31, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Amit Singh, reportedly assaulted BJP leader and chairman of Bantwal Urban Development Authority (BUDA), A Govind Prabhu, at the rural police station here. The party activists, protesting against this action, gathered at the police station, and demanded action against the ASP. Tension mounted in the town, following this incident.]

Senior BJP leaders rushed to the police station, and demanded for the immediate transfer of Singh out of the district, for dereliction of duty.

Govind Prabhu and Rayi gram panchayat president, Harish Acharya, had visited the rural police station here, in connection with the action of the policemen in taking into custody Timmappa Poojary. Poojary is accused of pelting stones at Sangebettu in the taluk, on the day the BJP had given call for state-wide bandh. When the ASP visited the police station, he saw Prabu and Acharya talking among themselves in front of the office of the police circle inspector. Without giving any hint or making enquiries, he beat them up, instructed the policemen to keep the other accused in the lock up, and went away. This gave rise to raised tempers in the town and among the BJP activists.

The activists demanded for an unconditional apology from the ASP, in addition to his immediate transfer. Till late night, they continued to protest, and raise slogans against Singh. Dakshina Kannada district BJP president, K Padmanabhya Kottary, Coastal Development Authority chairman, B Nagaraj Shetty, Balabhavan Society president, Sulochana G K Bhat, BJP leaders, Chandrahas Ullal, Santoshkumar Rai, Devadas Shetty and others rushed to the spot after learning about the incident.

Both the superintendent of police (SP) and additional SP held talks at night with the concerned. Additional police forces were deployed at the spot. MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, visited the spot at around 11 pm, and discussed the issue with the activists. It is learnt that SP, Subrahmanyeshwar Rao, has promised the BJP leaders to recommend disciplinary action against the ASP before Tuesday evening.

The news also had repercussions in Puttur, where the BJP activists gathered in front of the residence of the ASP and staged protest till late night on Monday.