Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)

Shimoga, Dec 28: After verbal friction with vehicle drivers over the hire charges payable on a vehicle hired to reach a temple hotted up, a police officer fired two rounds from his revolver, injuring two persons in the bargain. The incident occurred at Sigandhur Launch Stand near Tumari in the district.

Suresh Yallur, a police sub-inspector from Hubli, fired two bullets from his service revolver. A bullet fired at the ground by the policeman ricocheted and hit the thigh and chest of a local person named Ramappa. The second bullet hit the chest and head of another person named Seenappa, Both were admitted into Tumari hospital, and both are out of danger.

The sub-inspector in question has been posted to this place on election duty. He along with eight police constables had hired a launch on Sharavati backwaters, to visit Sigandhureshwari temple. From the bank, they had hired a jeep to reach the temple. Suresh reportedly argued with the jeep driver about the hire charges, and when all the vehicle owners ganged up against him, he beat up two of them, and then boarded the launch. As the gram panchayat members and leaders expressed anger at his behaviour, Suresh took out his revolver and fired twice at the ground, eyewitnesses said.