Home Minister G. Parameshwara has ordered a departmental inquiry into the alleged police brutality on farmers, women and youth in several parts of Dharwad district during the bandh on Saturday. He also tendered an apology for the lathi-charge on innocent people.
Several people, including the aged, were allegedly injured due to the police lathi-charge during the protests against the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal’s interim order rejecting the State’s application seeking 7 tmcft of water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala drinking water project.
The Home Minister said Additional Director-General of Police Kamal Pant had been asked to conduct the probe into the lathi-charge, particularly at Yamanur village in Dharwad district.
He said Mr. Pant, who was monitoring the bandh situation in Belagavi district on Saturday, has been asked to submit a report on the alleged police atrocities in a week’s time. Action would be taken against senior police officers and constables based on the report, Dr. Parameshwara told presspersons.
The police have been instructed not to arrest the aged and students. Cases registered against several people on the charge of setting offices on fire and stone-pelting would be withdrawn based on the probe report findings, Dr. Parameshwara said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Navalgund region Nehru Olekar has been transferred and a couple of policemen, including a Sub-Inspector, have been suspended, he said.
The government had posted senior officers (ADGP rank) — Bhaskar Rao, Raghavendra Auradkar and Mr. Pant — to monitor the situation in Bombay Karnataka region during the bandh.
Dr. Parameshwara, who instructed the police to resist wielding lathis on innocent people fighting for a cause, urged political parties not to politicise the protest for political mileage.
Earlier, JD(S) leaders, including former Minister and MLC Basavaraj Horatti, condemned the “police brutality” and demanded the resignation of the Home Minister. Replying to a query on the resignation sought by Mr. Horatti, Dr. Parameshwara said “my resignation will not solve the problem. Moreover, there is no tailor-made solution to problems.”
