JOIN US The City police have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the entire city for three days in the wake of violent protests against the new policy of the Union government on provident fund withdrawals.
Addressing a press meet City police commissioner N S Megharikh said that two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) from Coimbatore was on the way for beefing security.
The commissioner said the City police was prepared for Tuesday’s protests and that it was not intelligence failure. “It was a leaderless protest and no established trade unions participated in the stir. Some anti-social elements in the garb of protesters resorted to violence. We have registered 38 cases against the protesters arrested around 116 persons,” he said.
Around 16 Hoysala jeeps apart from scores of buses were damaged in the violence and 65 policemen were injured in the protests, the commissioner said. The ban orders will be in force till the midnight of April 22. Accordingly assembly of more than five people, processions and marches are prohibited. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the government would bear the cost of treatment of the college girl (Preethi) injured in the violence. He also visited Sparsh Hospital where the girl is under treatment.
The minister defended the police caning saying that the only intention was to quell the protest and bring the situation under control.