Protesters allege police brutality

Women kicked with boots in jail; Fishermen Morcha chief beaten up

Karwar Taluk BJP Fishermen Morcha president Ganapati Tikkam has also complained of being beaten black and blue.

Police had arrested 16 women in connection with the violence during the demonstration at Hanakona on July 30 and they were lodged in Bellary jail. They reached Karwar on Sunday night after being released on bail.

The victims met the Deputy Commissioner on Monday and narrated the alleged police atrocity against them in jail. They alleged that the police kicked them with boots and beat with canes. Advocate Dhanalakshmi Haladankar, one of the arrested women, said that the police kicked them and tore their clothes.

Sunita Naik and Pragati Naik had sustained injuries on arms and abdomen. The former alleged that a CPI hurled abuses and told her that he would rape her. Many of the elderly women too were not spared of the brutality. Several women were in trauma, they said.

DC N S Chennappagouda ordered for medical check up of the women. Advocates in the City boycotted the court proceedings on Monday in protest against the police brutality.

Taluk BJP Fishermen Morcha president Ganapati Tikkam said he  went to Chittakul police station to meet an advocate and was arrested in connection with the Hanakona incident.

He was beaten so badly that he had to be admitted to the district hospital at midnight on Saturday. However, the hospital authorities discharged him on Sunday stating that he sustained injuries after a fall. The police were preparing to take him into custody by Sunday afternoon. However, following a protest by City BJP workers, he was again admitted to the hospital.

Tikkam told mediapersons that he was abused, handcuffed and denied food for two days by police. “Am I a terrorist to treat me in this manner,” he questioned.

Meanwhile, a team of senior officials from Union Ministry of Environment visited Hanakona on Monday to review the permission given to Ind Bharat Company to construct a thermal power station. The team collected information from advocates, deputy commissioner, leaders of fishermen, forest officials and other stakeholders. The team comprised of Dr Reddy, Dr Sudhakar and Dr Kamat, sources said.