Police slept over intelligence, let chaos reign in court: CID

The Police department had intelligence that media personnel would be attacked by lawyers on March 2.

In a clear indication that the incident could have been avoided, an investigating report submitted to the State Home department has revealed that the police had intelligence about the matter, but failed to act upon it.

R K Dutta, DG CID, in his report submitted on Tuesday has said there were lapses on the part of the jurisdictional DCP G Ramesh and other supervisory officers in assessing the situation.

“...They did not arrange fool-proof bandobust in the light of intelligence input that mediapersons are likely to be attacked by advocates when G Janardhana Reddy is produced in the court,” the report has revealed.

The report has also said that the police knew of a supposed ‘animosity’ between the advocates and the media.

“The jurisdictional DCP/ACP failed to organise a meeting with the members of the advocates association and the media to ensure that the provisions for media coverage are properly made,” it has added.

Not only are the jurisdictional officers criticised for not arranging adequate security, but the ad hocism of the department has also been exposed.

Also, it notes that the police did not act promptly and effectively while handling the situation on the day.

“The conflict was allowed to drift, resulting in deterioration of the law and order situation,” it said.
The report has held the ACPs present on duty –– Gachinakatti Pirappa, V Shekar, Veerabhadre Gowda –– and other staff accountable for the failure in handling the situation. Even the presence of Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order) did not help in bringing the situation under control.

Further, ACP K N Jithendranath is accused of not intimating the in-charge DCP (G Ramesh) despite witnessing the lawyers’ protest against the media presence in the complex and there being indications of the situation turning violent.

The report states that DCP (Central) G Ramesh, who was in-charge of overall security arrangements, and DCP (West) Siddaramappa, in-charge of security at Mysore Bank Circle, failed to assess the situation.

Late Tuesday, ACP Jitendranath was mutually transferred with B N Nyamegouda of the Central Crime Branch (CCB). Similarly, DCP Ramesh was mutually transferred with Ravikante Gowda to North East division.

The decision on action against the other four officers is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Police unhappy

The R K Dutta report and the subsequent action left the police force simmering with discontent.

One of the officers transferred told Deccan Herald that the report had wrongly analysed the situation on March 2. While the report accused him of deserting the spot, he said he hadn’t deserted the place but had discharged his duty, as the CBI asked him to escort G Janardhan Reddy.
Other senior officers said there was growing frustration in the force that police were always made scapegoats for discharging their duties.

The decision to serve notices to ACPs V Shekar and Gachinakatti Pirappa seeking explanation has left many fuming. Eyewitnesses say the two officers were instrumental in protecting the mediapersons and other public from the wrath of the advocates.