Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 17: State Wakf and minority development minister, Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, accused the policemen of Chickballapur of committing excesses by resorting to caning the activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Addressing a press conference in the city on Thursday September 16, he said that the policemen prima facie, used unacceptable levels of force in the above incident.

“The ABVP activists had come to meet the Governor, who was in the town to participate in a function, and present to him a memorandum containing certain demands pertaining to education sector. The policemen, whose number exceeded 100, beat up the activists, who were not more than 30. This is condemnable,” he said.

He explained that the state government is examining the possibility of meeting the medical expenses of the activists injured in the said incident. He offered to meet the medical expenses from his own pocket, if the rules do not have such a provision.

Khan expressed the confidence that peace, harmony and law and order in the state will not be disturbed, in the light of the expected delivery of verdict on Ayodhya dispute on the 24th of this month. “Let us pray to the Lord, not to allow anything untoward to happen,” he said, answering queries raised by some media men. He also expressed the opinion that the concerned should sit together and find an amicable settlement for this dispute, thereby giving a new thrust to the ideal of harmonious coexistence.