The Karnataka’s Home Ministry has ordered a departmental inquiry into police brutality on farmers, women and youth in several parts of the Dharwad district during the Karnataka bandh on Saturday.
Several innocent people, including aged, were injured during the police lathi-charge during the protests organised to oppose injustice meted out to the people of Mumbai-Karnataka region by the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal. The Tribunal had rejected the State’s application seeking allocation of 7 tmcft of water to the Kalasa-Banduri Nala.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who tendered an apology for the lathi-charge on innocent people, said Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) Kamal Pant has been asked to conduct the probe into the charges of police brutalities, particularly at Yamanur village in Dharwad district.
Hundreds of farmers, women and college students were injured during the protest and lathi-charge.
He said, Mr. Pant, who was monitoring the bandh situation in the Belagavi district on Saturday, has been asked to submit the report in a week’s time. Action would be taken against the senior police officers and constables based on the findings of the report, the Home Minister told presspersons.
Earlier, JD (S) leaders, including former minister and MLC Basavaraj Horatti, condemned the “police brutality” and demanded resignation of Mr. Parameshwara from the post of Home Minister.
Mr. Parameshwara said the police have been instructed not to arrest the aged and students. Cases registered against several people on charges of setting offices on fire and stone-pelting would be withdrawn based on the probe report findings.
