Attack on DCF: 'BJP leaders may be in rowdy list'

Disttrict Superintendent of Police Vartika Katiar has said that the police department is contemplating on adding five names into the rowdy sheet, who are accused in the incident of manhandling District Conservator of Forest Shivshankar. Out of five accused, four are BJP leaders.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, she said that a case has been registered against coffee planter Nanda Subbaiah, Gaalibeedu Gram Panchayat President Subhash Somaiah, Zill Panchayat Member S N Rajarao, former MLC S G Medappa and Madhu Devaiah, the personal assistant of MLA K G Bhopaiah at Madikeri city police station. There are few other complaints against the accused. Physical attack on a government officer is a quite a serious offence, she added.

It may be remembered that District Conservator of Forest Shivshankar was attacked while State-level expert committee team members were collecting public opinion on Kasturirangan report, at Fort hall on November 28.

She agreed that there is political pressure on the department. However, the department has vedio of the whole meeting of the day and incident has also been recorded in the video.

A complaint has been filed according to that and investigation will proceed as per the law.

The Superintendent of Police said that case has been filed against 37 people including Zilla Panchayat Member Bond Ganapati and Kushalanagar Town Panchayat President D K Timmappa for blocking road and closing Koppa gate near Kushalnagar and Bittangaala of Virajpet, during Kodagu bandh call, which was given, condemning police action against elected representatives, on December 2.

Meanwhile, BJP Kodagu District Unit Vice President Rathnakar has said that the party would complain against the SP, if she adds their names to rowdy sheet.