Assessment of CCTV footage on, says minister Prasad

Cooperation and Chamarajanagar District In-charge Minister H S Mahadev Prasad said the police, who are investigating the attack on Deputy Commissioner A M Kunjappa, are assessing footage of closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras installed at the scene of crime.

Replying to media queries, Prasad said the investigators are gathering vital clues before arresting the perpetrators in the case. To a query, Prasad said the surveillance cameras were functioning at that time, denying any chances of the equipment remaining defunct.

Prasad said the DC sustained injuries on his neck when miscreants pelted stones at his car on Sunday. Kunjappa, who is also the district magistrate, had gone to Gundlupet Circle in the town where stone quarry lorry operators had assembled in protest against police action to intercept the lorries without permit, he said.

Prasad said,there are around 53 licenced mines in the district which have secured both environmental clearance and permit to transport the natural resource. The licences were issued two months ago. As the Mines and Geology Department lacks adequate staff, the police were intercepting the lorries transporting granite without permit and it triggered protest. Prasad said the DC tried to control the mining lobby.