District in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar on Monday announced that there prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code would be declared in Dakshina Kannada from the midnight of Thursday to the midnight of September 26. However, there will be no restriction on the Jum'ah prayers on Friday, he added.
The district administration took the decision based on a recommendation of the Police Department in view of the verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit that is expected to be delivered by the Allahabad High Court on September 24.
Making this announcement at a peace committee meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's office here, Mr. Palemar implored the people to exercise restraint irrespective of the nature of the verdict. He said that all reactions should be within the boundaries of civility and the Constitution.
City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singhsaid that the police would make all efforts to ensure peace. On the alleged provocative SMSs being circulated and calls for preventive arrests, he said, “We have the technology to trace the origin of these SMSs. If necessary, we will detain some individuals who may create trouble.” Stating that the district Police Department would send SMSs calling for peace and restraint to all mobile users in the district, he urged the people to contact the nearest police station before believing any rumour. Earlier, Sangh Parivar affiliates such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal, the Hindu Yuva Sene and the Hindu Jagaran Vedike held a joint press conference along with the Muslim Central Committee, the Wakf Board and the Jamat-e-Islami. However, representatives from the Sri Rama Sene and the Popular Front of India were conspicuous by their absence.
Meeting held
Udupi Staff Correspondent reports:
A meeting of heads of various political parties and organisations, religious heads and traders was held at the Udupi Town police station on Monday with the sole objective of maintaining peace and order in the city in the aftermath of the Allahabad High Court verdict. The people in the district have been urged to maintain calm and restraint after the delivery of the verdict on September 24. Any attempt at disturbing peace would be sternly dealt with, the police officials said. Earlier, 14 meetings were held in different places in this regard, according to a press release.
