Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 25: The beaches at Ullal wore a deserted look after 8 pm on Sunday January 24 and it looked as if the people had imposed a self, undeclared curfew in the region.

This was the result of a raid conducted at the beaches by the Ullal police under orders from the city police commissioner. The people in general are of the opinion that this action has hit the street vendors at the beaches, who have already been reeling under the after effects of lockdown, hard.

Representational image

On January 16, under the instructions of the police commissioner, Ullal police had raided the beaches and taken people found to be roaming around to the police station and allowed them to go after issuing them a stern warning. On Saturday night, the police conducted another raid at the beaches at Thokottu Valapete, Uchila, Someshwar and Ullal at around 9 pm, took those found to have formed groups to the police station and made them to sit in a private hall. The police have been claiming that those found to be consuming alcohol in the pubic were rounded up. But several who were taken away were teetotallers. A number of people had come to the beaches for relaxing. Over a hundred people including fishermen residing near the sea, owners of the resort at the beach and others were confined to a hall.

The general opinion of the people is that police have to raid businesses found to be operating near the wine shops where drinks are served. They point out that the police never conduct raids there. They are of the firm view that the police department, by taking up a job which pertains to excise department, has made itself a laughing stock. They pointed out that rounding up of the tourists at the beaches will badly hurt tourism prospects of the city. As the video recording of the people who were taken away was done, it can defame the people who were not indulging in any illegal activities. Many also say that the police, who are expected to protect the people, have not been able to attend to that duty, and instead, they are driving tourists away, which will sully the image of the city.

The police said that they had escorted people away from the beaches legally, but allowed the people to go away after BJP block committee president Chandrahas Pandithhouse visited the spot and took the police to task. This clearly shows dereliction of duty. Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar visited the spot where the people were bundled together, gave them some advice and asked the police to let them go. When assistant commissioner of police, Ranjith, and Ullal station house officer, Sandeep, took steps to obey the commissioner’s order, a delegation led by BJP block president reached there and took the policemen to task after which the people were immediately allowed to go.

This listless action of the police appears like an effort to harass people in Ullal. The roadside vendors who hoped to make some money, are now cursing the policemen for robbing them of their livelihood.