Mangalore: NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas Criticises DK Police's Brutality
Pics by Dayanand Kukkaje/Santhu Gurpur
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM/SP)
Mangalore, Sep 17: NCW (National Commission for Women) Chairperson Girijya Vyas expressed her displeasure over the inept handling of the disturbances that took place in the city, by the state home department. She was particularly critical of the brutality with which the policemen dealt with the protestors, particular the women.
Vyas held discussions with the state home minister Dr V S Acharya and western range inspector general of police (IGP) Ashit Mohan Prasad at the Circuit House here in the morning. A large number of aggrieved women had come to Circuit House to relate the atrocities committed on them by the ruthless policemen during their peaceful protest inside church premises.
At the press conference, NCW chairperson termed the incidents as utterly shameful and unbecoming of a civilised society. She earnestly hoped, that the incidents of the nature do not recur and hoped, that the home ministry and the police department will take preemptive steps to ensure that normalcy is restored in the twin-districts as soon as possible. She demanded for an impartial inquiry into the incidents, to which the IGP assured, that an enquiry team will be constituted and a report will be submitted thereof, as soon as possible.
Girija Vyas said, that she was not at all happy with the performance of the state home ministry in avoiding and controlling of the situation. She wanted the state government to put its acts together and take remedial steps immediately and protect minorities. Secularism is the backbone of a democracy and the district is known for its secular fabric. It should not be allowed to be disintegrated at any cost, she warned.
She expressed surprise at not a single lady police officer being in action during the action against protestors. The women who were treated harshly are in a trauma, she stated. Vyas also strongly felt, that the policemen had no reason or need to enter church premises and beat up the crowds there. The commission will submit a report to the union government on the happenings for further action, she revealed.
She advised the police to work to win over the confidence of the people in general and minorities in particular, by acting impartially to restore peace in the region. "We are shocked to find that ladies were beaten up by the police," she said.
Commission member Niva Kanwar, state Womens' Congress president Rani Sathish and geneal secretary Shyamala Bhandary were present.
On her arrival in the city late night on Tuesday September 16, Girija Vyas had visited the prayer centre of Milagres Church that was vandalized by miscreants on Sunday September 14, and spoke to the priests and sisters there. Commission member Niva Kanwar, state Congress leader Rani Sathish, DK District Womens' Congress president Mamata Gatti, ex MP Vinay Kumar Sorake etc., accompanied the dignitary.
The NCW chairperson accompanied by Rani Sathish and Shyamala Bhandary, visited Father Muller Hospital in the city, where Fr Mullers director Dennis D'Sa and Ivan D'Souza received them. During her discussions, the bishop who is recuperating there, advocated that punishment should be meted out to only those who released or distributed pamphlets deriding Hindu religion, and targetting all members of a religion was not at all justified. Out of 161 persons arrested in connection with disturbances as per press reports, 35 were Hindus, he noted. Vyas asked the policemen not to resort to any more arrests.