Southern States - Karnataka   

Joint House panel to probe Hiriyur firing

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Aug. 1. The State Government on Thursday agreed in the Legislative Council to a probe by a Joint Committee of the Legislature into the recent police firing at Hiriyur. Police resorted to firing to disperse people protesting against the construction of a biomass-based private power plant, and two people died.

Replying to a discussion initiated by several members of the Opposition, including the Floor Leader of the JD(S), K.H. Srinivasa, and the JD(U) leader, M.P. Prakash, the Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the Government, which had agreed to a probe by a House committee in the Legislative Assembly, was ready for a probe by a joint committee. However, there could not be a judicial inquiry since a magisterial inquiry had already been instituted, he added.

While the Home Minister gave a detailed account of the sequence of events that led to the police firing, the Minister for Forest and Environment, K.H. Ranganath, who is the Minister in charge of Chitradurga District, gave details pertaining to the Government, particularly the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, granting clearances for the project. He said there was no question of the Government having given the approvals on a single day, and there was no nexus between officials and the management of the private company which was setting up the power plant.

The Opposition members were unhappy with the reply given by the Government, and staged a walkout. After the walkout by the BJP, Mr. Srinivasa explained his party's stand. Later, the JD(S) members walked out of the House followed by the JD(U) members led by Basavaraj Horatti.

The Home Minister said the Government would pay compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of the two persons who died in the firing. Medical facilities would be provided to those injured. Nearly 85 persons had been arrested in connection with the violence, and 35 cases registered against them.

Referring to the allegations levelled by the Opposition, Mr. Kharge said there was no intention on the part of the Government to direct the police to file an attempt to murder case against the former minister and JD(S) Parliamentary Board Chairman, D. Manjunath, who hailed from the area. The chargesheet would be filed after a thorough investigation. Referring to the damage caused to property during the demonstration at Hiriyur, Mr. Kharge said action would be taken against the offenders. The protestors split into groups and attacked the power plant, the office of the KPTCL, and several other buildings, and caused a huge loss It was only after that the police resorted to firing.

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