Home Minister flays rumour mongers for unrest in Ullal

K J George appeals leaders, political parties not to instigate residents 

Home Minister K J George has blamed a few political vested interests of exploiting people and disrupting peace and harmony by way of spreading false rumours in Ullal, that witnessed communal unrest last week. 

Addressing mediapersons during his visit to the city on Wednesday, the Minister requested the leaders of organisations and political parties not to instigate the residents of Ullal who are recovering from the communal turbulence. “We can not restrict anybody from visiting Ullal and speaking to people.

We had prevented a few leaders from visiting the town when Section 144 was in force. Now, all are free to go, however, I request all not to instigate the people,” he replied to a question about the scheduled visit of Pejavar seer Vishweshatheertha to Ullal on Thursday. 

George criticised the anti-social elements of trying to reap political profit by portraying even the minor untoward incidents as communal clash. “There is no communal clash in the district, but individual incidents are given communal colour. I have instructed the police to take tough measures to prevent any untoward incidents in the region,” he said. 

He lauded the police department for efficiently handling the Ullal incident and assured that none of the innocents who were arrested will be chargesheeted. The IG and the city police commissioner are reviewing the arrests and all those who are found innocent will be released, he said.

Talks with NGOs

On the government’s attempt to bring willing naxals to the mainstream, the Home Minister said that the department was having talks with some of the NGOs that are speaking on behalf on naxals. As the department sensed green signal from a few naxals to surrender and join the mainstream, the department began holding talks with NGOs to mediate.

To a query on the allegations on some of the NGOs of trying to rehabilitate National Park dwellers using foreign funds, George said the police department has not found such instances. However, he said he would direct the police to keep a track on it. 

Clarifying on the government programmes introduced in naxal affected areas, he said that the programmes are not meant for ‘naxal affected areas,’ but were ‘tribal welfare schemes.’ “Our intention is to avoid the use of the word ‘naxal,’” he said. 

Further, he stated that the police, revenue and forest departments are jointly forming a rehabilitation policy that would satisfy the families willing to rehabilitate from National Park. 

Answering to a question on preventing tri-junction naxal activities in the bordering areas, he said three nodal officers have been appointed one from each state who are in constant touch with each other to carry out the operations. Anti-Naxal Force in collaboration with Anti-Naxal Squad is performing combined combing operation in the tri-junction.

“Centre for Counter Terrorism with 120 constables headed by a Major General has been formed in the State. The squad is ready to fight the situation round the clock. The team is on par with National Security Guards in terms of possession of weapons and tactics,” he said.

He also said that a revised proposal has been sent to the Konkan railways on combined operation of the state police with the railway police in the railway jurisdiction area. Later, the Minister inaugurated the new building of Mangalore South and Mangalore Traffic Sub-division at Pandeshwar.