Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 10: A protest was organized at Bajpe under the leadership of Bajpe block Congress committee, youth Congress and other organizations on Sunday May 9, in protest against the alleged transfer of Pramod Kumar, sub-inspector (SI) of Bajpe police station. The protestors blocked traffic for some time, and handed over a memorandum to police circle inspector, Valentine D’Souza, who visited the spot.

The Congressmen said that the state BJP government had pressurized Pramod Kumar to proceed on leave, to pave way for his eventual transfer. They alleged that the BJP leaders had conspired to transfer the said SI, and that he was asked to go on leave, as the code of conduct relating to gram panchayat elections is in force. The protestors suspected that the BJP cadres want to commit mischief during the elections, by making use of the opportunity created by the SI’s absence.

The Congress Party has warned that its members would lay seize to Bajpe police station and continue to hold protest till their demand is not met, if the government fails to give reasons for asking Pramod Kumar to go on leave within 24 hours.

Police circle inspector, Valentine D’Souza, who met the agitators, clarified that there was no proposal to transfer Pramod, nor was he being punished. “After the leave of four days, he will report back at Bajpe police station. I will hand over the memorandum given by you to the district superintendent of police,” he added.

Over 200 Congressmen including  party leaders, G A Bawa, Ivan D’Souza, Gurpur block Congress president, R K Prithviraj and Bajpe block Congress president, Ramachandra Shetty, were present. It is also learnt, that a few organizations from Bajpe have decided to observe a voluntary ‘Bajpe banch’ on Monday May 10 against the transfer of the local SI.