The State Government has announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of two persons who died in the violence that erupted in Kodagu during the Tipu Sultan Jayanthi celebrations on Tuesday.
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao, who has also been assigned as Minister-in-charge of Kodagu district, said the State Government has already ordered an inquiry by the Regional Commissioner of Mysuru into the violence that claimed the lives of Kuttappa, 62, and Shahul Hameed, 23.
Responding to reporters' queries at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute's (MMCRI) mortuary, where the post- mortem examination on Shahul Hameed's body was conducted, Mr. Gundu Rao said attempts had been made by various organisations to disturb peace in Kodagu and assured that action will be taken against wrong-doers.
Even as the police was carrying out the investigation, high priority was being accorded to taking precautionary measures to prevent the recurrence of trouble in the district.
Seeking to clarify that the Government would neither "appease nor oppose" anybody during the investigation, Mr. Gundu Rao, who was en route to Madikeri, appealed to the political parties against making political capital out of the two "bodies".
Even as the Regional Commissioner will probe the incident, the Kodagu police, which registered several FIRs in connection with the violence, will simultaneously carry out its investigations. "The inquiries will be fair and impartial," Mr. Rao assured. He said no decision had been taken on the demand for a judicial probe yet.
Mr. Rao refused to field queries on the alleged failure of the district administration and the absence of the Deputy Commissioner from Madikeri during Tipu Jayanti celebrations.
Social Democratic Party of India's (SDPI) State general secretary Abdul Majeed, who was at the mortuary, urged Mr. Rao to initiate action against BJP leader and former Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah for allegedly inciting the public with his communal remarks.
Meanwhile, the body of Shahul Hameed, who had died of bullet injury, was shifted to his native town Siddapura for the last rites after the post-mortem.
