Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal
Bhatkal, Oct 1: Hundreds of locals gathered outside Bhatkal police station on the night of Wednesday September 30 after cops allegedly assaulted a 22-year-old youth.
Mohammed Raiyan (22) was allegedly assaulted by the police, after which he was admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru.
Raiyan alleged that when he was transporting cattle from Telangana state, the police stopped him and demanded a bribe. When he refused to pay, they thrashed him, he claimed.
It is said that Raiyan was called for interrogation in connection with cattle transport and a driving offence. A friend who accompanied him told some people that Raiyan was interrogated and assaulted after the police checked his vehicle records. This prompted people to visit the police station.
As the news spread, angry locals along with leaders of Majlis-e-Islah-o-Tanzeem gheraoed the Bhatkal police station and demanded action against the inspector.
The SI denied the allegations of assault which further angered the mob. Meanwhile, the people took Raiyan to a hospital in Kundapur and later shifted him to another hospital in Mangaluru.
When the situation was about to become peaceful, a police officer threatened the people in the name of a person with criminal background. This angered the people gathered.
"You call the person. Let us see what he will do," said the people gathered. The police officer also told Raiyan to approach the rural police station and complain to a particular officer there regarding the case. This worsened the situation and people started shouting slogans.
The police officer then denied having taken anybody’s name. But people gathered could not be pacified. They demanded that a case be registered against the police officer.
Police subsequently managed to send the people out from the police station. The people said that they would protest against the officers if the problem is not addressed.
As per sources, a meeting took place among the leaders of the minority community at Tanzeem office later in the evening and they decided to take the matter seriously and protest against the police personnel concerned.
It is further alleged that a few days ago, Raiyan was called to the police station in Bhatkal where the sub-inspector demanded a bribe from him and threatened to file false cases against him if he did not pay up. The police wanted to check his vehicle documents as he is engaged in legal transportation of cattle, sources said, and the documents were found to be valid. The SI also allegedly told Raiyan to give a false statement in front of the DySP, but he refused.