MLAs bat for tahsildar, flay cops

Revanna demands high level inquiry into police action over Mathai incident

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday he said the arrogance of the police has gone to the extent of lodging a false complaint against tahsildar K Mathai, who is the taluk magistrate. People are afraid of entering police stations in the district. Common people do not get justice there, he added.

Pointing out that the tahsildar has himself lodged a complaint in this regard against the deputy superintendent of police with the deputy commissioner, Revanna said the government should consider the complaint of Mathai seriously and conduct a high-level inquiry into the deeds of the police.

He urged the government to keep the DySP and inspector in question under suspension till the inquiry is complete. The home minister should get information about how many cases have been solved in the past six months and take action against the personnel for their negligence.

To substantiate the statement of Revanna, MLA H S Prakash narrated three incidents:

1) The iron gate in front the MLA’s house was stolen. When the MLA went to the police station to lodge a complaint, they said there was no need for a FIR, but they would apprehend the culprit.
However, police took no action three days later the MLA’s men caught hold of the culprit. He returned the gate. He was taken to the police station and handed over. When the progress on the case was enquired, the police said the accused had escaped from the station.

2) A person from Chikkamagalur was returning from Bangalore after shopping for his daughter’s wedding. He dropped in at a relative’s house in Hassan and while returning to his native place, he was intercepted by two policemen. The policemen asked for a drop to their station. The person obliged. But, when he checked the items he found that an expensive saree was missing. The inspector of the station was contacted. Upon investigation, the policeman confessed that he had stolen the saree. He returned it, but pleaded not to lodge a complaint.

3) While the MLA was with a friend, who was a hardware merchant, the latter got a phone call from a police officer. As the merchant knew the intention behind the phone call, he gave it to the MLA. The police officer demanded steel for the house he was constructing.

As soon as he learnt that the person on the other side was the MLA, he cut the call.

President of district unit of Janata Dal (Secular) H K Javaregowda was present at the press meet.

Action

Superintendent of police Amit Singh said he was aware of the complaint against the DySP with the DC. “The DC is out of station, I will take action after holding a discussion with the DC soon after his return on November 15.” he said. However, he declined further allegations against his staff. He said he had not received any complaint in this regard.